UP SEZs clock exports worth Rs 16,814 crore

All the functional special economic zones (SEZs) in Uttar Pradesh, including private and government-promoted ones, clocked exports worth Rs 16,814 crore in 2008-09.

The two government SEZs, at Moradabad and Noida, employ over 30,000 people directly. The private SEZs include Moser Baer India Ltd (non-conventional energy), Wipro Technologies Ltd (IT/ITeS) at Greater Noida, besides HCL Technologies Ltd (IT/ITeS) and Seaview Developers Ltd (IT/ITeS) at Noida.

While Moradabad SEZ recorded an increase of around 27.5 per cent in exports in FY’09, Noida SEZ saw a slight dip of 3 per cent to Rs 16,308 crore.

Product-specific Moradabad SEZ, which was set up to promote handicrafts, comprising world famous art-metal and brassware, registered exports worth Rs 14.33 crore in 2008-09.

Meanwhile, total exports by private SEZs registered a growth of 300 per cent in 2008-09 at Rs 506 crore with a total investment of Rs 1,806 crore, providing direct employment to over 5,000 people.

Excluding Moser Baer SEZ, the other three SEZs became operational in the later part of financial year 2007-08 or in first quarter of FY’09.

To further propel SEZ productivity and give thrust to industrial sector, exports and employment generation, a high-level meeting of UP Infrastructure & Industrial Development department was held.

It deliberated upon measures to facilitate hassle-free industrial activity, trade and transactions to maintain competitive edge of SEZs in attracting long-term investment.

Now, SEZ units have also been exempted from entry tax with effect from June 30, 2009 like 100 per cent export-oriented units, which had been exempt from entry tax since July 1, 2008.

At present, there are 16 SEZs in Uttar Pradesh, which had been notified and ready to be operational soon.

Besides, 19 SEZs had been formally approved by the Board of Approvals of the central government, including six more government SEZs.