Tatas to promote leather SEZ in Nellore

A world-class exclusive special economic zone (SEZ) for manufacture of leather products would come up soon at Tada in Nellore district, according to Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Ramesh said that the exclusive SEZ, proposed to be established adjacent to the Apache SEZ, would be promoted by the Tatas and a consortium of shoe manufacturers.

"Tatas would initially invest Rs 100 crore to develop the SEZ, which would be the largest footwear and other leather products manufacturing facility in the country," the minister said, adding that the SEZ would not have any tannery.

The SEZ would export leather products worth Rs 2,200 crore within three years.

The Andhra Pradesh government was expected to send its proposal in a week, and the Union commerce ministry would clear it in a month, he said, adding that the leather products could be exported within a year.

The Union minister also announced the launch of a national project for export of organic agriculture products from eight districts. According to him, the project would be launched from Hyderabad.

"Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar, Krishna, Guntur and Nizamabad districts have been selected under the project to grow organic grapes, pomegranate, mangoes, turmeric, chillies and vegetables," he said.

Jairam Ramesh expressed his displeasure over the slow pace of growth in the agriculture export zones (AEZ) across the country.

He said that the Agriculture Product Export Development Authority (Apeda) would revive AEZs, including the five in the state.