Vizag SEZ exports up 37 pc in Apr-Dec

Interestingly, of the total exports carried out by the VSEZ units, around 93 per cent was shared between two diamond-processing units.

The export turnover of the 12 units in the VSEZ touched Rs 334.65 crore during April-December this fiscal, as against Rs 244.11 crore during the corresponding period of last fiscal, registering a 37 per cent growth.

The total VSEZ exports were at Rs 341.37 crore during the last fiscal, and the government set a target Rs 450-500 crore for this year, according to sources at VSEZ.

During the first nine months of the current financial year, the export figures of the units located in VSEZ are: Worldwide Diamond Manufacturing (Rs 199.23 cr), LID Jewellery India (Rs 112.19 cr), LID (Jewellery) (Rs 12.02 cr), Madras Knitwear (Rs 7.22 cr), Spares Corporation (Rs 25 lakh), Kaarunya Associates (Rs 47 lakh), Global Opticals (Rs 18 lakh), Van Buren Export and Import (Rs 11 lakh), True Forge Fittings (Rs 1.01 cr), Ergobogen Fittings (Rs 2 lakh), and Bangalore Sweaters (Rs 1.95 cr). During the current financial year permission was granted by VSEZ to two trading houses - Kaarunya Associated and Spares Corporation "� to start their businesses from the zone.

These two trading houses have been importing lubricants and ship spare parts, and selling these material to foreign ships that berth at Visakhapatnam port.

The performance of the information technology (IT) units in VSEZ is miserable. In 2001-2002, the IT units' exports were Rs 29 crore, whereas the software exports by December-end this year did not even cross the Rs 1 lakh mark, as some units shut down operations this year.