Epz Volumes Up 34% To Rs 4,300 Cr In 1996-97

The export processing zones (EPZs) have justified their existence by recording exports worth over Rs 4,300 crore in 1996-97.

EPZs were set up much before the liberalisation process was started in 1991. Their export performance during the last five years has showed that annual export growth ranged from 17 per cent in 1992-93 to 42 per cent in 1993-94, according to official sources who added that, in 1996-97, it was around 34 per cent.

During the fiscal 1997-98, the exports from epzs are expected to increased to Rs 5,500 crore. Net foreign exchange earnings by epzs has increased from Rs 433 crore in 1992-93 to Rs 1,809 crore in 1996-97. Of the 793 export units approved in seven EPZs in the country, 511 were operational at present with a total investment of about Rs 1350 crore.

 

Statistics during the last five years showed that exports from these EPZs had steadily increased from a Rs 1376 crore in 1992-93 to Rs 4323 crore in 1996-97. Exports were Rs 1959 crore in 1993-94, Rs 2653 crore in 1994-95 and Rs 3235 crore in 1995-96.

The Santacruz export processing zone topped the list with Rs 2176 crore exports in 1996-97 followed by Madras with Rs 992 crore and Noida with Rs 586 crore.