Andhra team to study SEZ in China

The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to send a team of officials on a brief visit to China to study the functioning of special economic zones (SEZs) in that country.

"With China being seen as the prime inspiration behind promoting the SEZ concept in India, the state government has thought it fit to study the original SEZs for better understanding of their functioning since Andhra has already got formal approvals to start 40 SEZs," a senior government official told Business Standard.

A team comprising the top officials from the industries department and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) among others will be on a week-long visit to Shanghai and other places in China, the official said. Formal orders by the government are expected to be issued shortly.

Besides studying SEZs, the official team has also been mandated to present the state as an attractive destination for Chinese investments, especially in the manufacturing sector.