'Use SEZs better to push exports'

In a presentation to the Board of Trade, the commerce ministry called for improving use of SEZ capacity by permitting units to do job work for domestic tariff area units and allowing them to sell in the domestic market at duty rates agreed in free trade agreements. Of the 327 SEZs that had received all clearances by November 2015, only 204 are operational. Exports from SEZs declined to Rs 4.63 lakh crore in 2014-15 from Rs 4.94 lakh crore a year ago. The ministry wants tax incentives for SEZs to stay. In the Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said income tax benefits for new SEZ units would be available to those that commenced activity before March 31, 2020.