Sez

Govt plans policy changes to boost domestic demand for SEZ manufacturers

Govt plans SEZ reforms to offset US tariff hit, enabling duty relief on domestic sales and support for labour-intensive exporters

SEZ amendment Bill may be taken up in monsoon session of Parliament

The Bill will allow 'reverse job work'. This means that SEZ units will be able to do a part of the manufacturing process on its behalf for DTA units

Centre seeks to relax eco-zone norms as states flag development hurdles

The wildlife board may revise eco-sensitive zone rules to allow site-specific plans, after states said rigid norms were hurting local development and delaying new protected area proposals

SEZ to DTA clearance of used machinery should be on depreciated value

Despite GST treating intermediary services as domestic supply, other laws like FEMA and FTDR Act recognise them as exports; SEZ units must pay duty on depreciated value

Special zones: SEZ policy demands all-round reform, not frequent changes

In theory, the SEZ environment would be ideal for the requirements of semiconductor manufacture, which requires stable power, clean water, and access to a skilled workforce

Govt eases SEZ rules to promote chips, electronics component manufacturing

Reduces min land required to set up such firms from 50 hectares to 10 hectares

India's first AI SEZ to be set up in Nava Raipur with ₹1K cr investment

It will be a special area, which is being prepared only for the development and operation of technologies related to AI and computer data, a senior state government official said

Mumbai SEZ leasing rises sharply in 2024, reverses 3-year downward trend

The decline in SEZ leasing in recent years had been largely driven by the government's sunset clauses, which phased out tax benefits, making these zones less attractive to potential tenants

Revamped SEZ law unlikely before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

The commerce department had sought the Union Cabinet's nod to bring amendments in the existing SEZ Act, 2005 late last year

Govt working on reforms for Special Economic Zones: Commerce secretary

The government is working on reforms in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) domain so that movement of goods between domestic tariff area (DTA) and SEZ space is carried out smoothly without affecting the competitiveness of goods in the export markets, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Saturday. During the pandemic two years ago, many office spaces in the SEZ areas had been vacated due to 'work from home' practice initiated by the occupants. Barthwal said this had led to the demarcation of SEZs into SEZ and DTA spaces. "Scale economies have become very important nowadays. Reforms in the SEZ are in the offing so that movement of goods from SEZ to DTA and vice-versa are not affected rendering goods produced become less competitive", Barthwal said at a symposium organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce. The official said that the foreign trade policy (FTP) of the government had been framed keeping in mind the global value chain. "Our FTP has been designed for exporters to take

India, Hong Kong customs dept unearth trade-based money laundering case

The Indian and Hong Kong Customs have unearthed a major case of Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) involving Hong Kong-based exporters and Indian importers located in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the finance ministry said on Friday. In an exemplary case of bilateral cooperation and exchange of information, this crackdown showcases investigation and enforcement actions taken by both administrations under their respective laws to expose an international cartel. DRI had unearthed a case of Trade-Based Money Laundering from a SEZ, wherein cheap synthetic diamonds were being imported into India in the guise of natural diamonds, to remit foreign currency out of India. Investigations revealed that cheap synthetic diamonds were being mis-declared as natural diamonds and overvalued more than 100 times and being imported from firms based in Hong Kong to SEZ in India. During the investigation, it was also observed that some real diamonds were imported but replaced with synthetic diamonds a

Year ender 2023: 10 important regulatory changes that took place in India

2023 was a busy year for regulators like the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Here are the 10 key changes on the regulatory front

Centre to revise SEZ Act, limiting tax sops and enhancing integration

SEZs are areas within the country that have different economic regulations and are considered as a foreign territory, with the primary focus on promoting exports

DESH Bill explained: What it is and why the government may junk it

Discussions are taking place on whether the DESH bill will be passed or the SEZ Act will be amended, officials said

Adani Ports & SEZ total cargo volumes rise 48% Y-o-Y to 37 MMT in October

The total cargo volume of the company's ports in India touched 36 MMT, recording a 43 per cent Y-o-Y growth

Adani Ports and SEZ incorporates wholly-owned aircraft leasing unit

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZL) on Monday said it has incorporated a wholly-owned aircraft leasing unit, Udanvat Leasing IFSC Ltd. The entity will have an authorised and paid-up share capital of Rs 2.5 crore. Udanvat has been incorporated with the objective to carry out business activity of owning and leasing of aircraft, the compay said in a regulatory filing. APSEZL has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary company "Udanvat Leasing IFSC Ltd" on October 23, 2023, the company said in the filing. It also said Udanvat Leasing IFSC Ltd has been incorporated with an authorised and paid-up share capital of Rs 2,50,00,000 divided into 25,00,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each. Last month, Tata Group-owned Air India had also announced setting up an aircraft leasing unit at IFSC (International Financial Services Centre) Gift City while budget carrier IndiGo also plans to establish a shop at IFSC Gift City. Aircraft leasing firms that commence operations from the IFSC in .

Deloitte, Adani Ports & SEZ spar over Hindenburg Research's claims

Had sought external examination of Hindenburg's allegations: Deloitte

Import restrictions on gold jewellery not applicable for SEZ units

The government has clarified that import restrictions on certain gold jewellery and articles are not applicable for units in the special economic zones (SEZs). On July 12, the government, through a notification, imposed these restrictions on certain gold jewellery and articles. In a policy circular, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said it has received representations from SEZs units highlighting issues being faced by them due to these restrictions. Accordingly, it is "clarified" that imports of these products by SEZ units "are outside the purview" of the July 12 notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said. These zones are treated as foreign entities in terms of provisions related to customs.

GMR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ signs lease with Safran Aircraft Engines for MRO

GMR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ Limited (GHASL), a GMR Group company has recently signed a Land Lease Agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines Services India Pvt. Ltd , a subsidiary of Safran, to lease land to the Paris-based aerospace company to build and operate the Engine MRO facility for LEAP turbofan engines. A press release from GMR said spread across 23.5 acres of the land parcel within the SEZ area of GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park here, the facility will occupy around 36,500 sqm of built-up space. The facility will initially have the capacity to service 100 engines per annum, which will gradually increase, to around 300 engines by 2035. It will also generate ample employment opportunities in the state of Telangana, a GMR official said. The construction of the facility will commence in September 2023. The facility is expected to be handed over in December 2024. This facility in Hyderabad will be the largest MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) centre in the Safran Aircraft ...

Commerce department likely to tweak some SEZ rules in DESH Bill

Move will allow use of unutilised spaces in IT/ITeS for non-SEZ purposes