Shipping ministry eyes SEZ-like tax breaks to push coastal economic zones

The Union government had proposed setting up CEZs, one each on the east and west coast of the country

To get investors for its ambitious Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) scheme, the Ministry of Shipping is pitching for tax concessions on the lines of what is available for special economic zones. This, it is felt, could give a boost to the project after the government decided to give a push to the logistics and warehousing sectors by declaring them as infrastructure. 

The ministry is likely to approach the Prime Minister’s Office for the same. “We are in the process of seeking approval from various stakeholders including NITI Aayog, Department of Expenditure, DIPP and road ministry and would write to the PMO,”