Exports from special economic zones (SEZs) were of Rs 3,33,661 crore, while employment generation was of about 19.96 lakh persons as on September 30, 2018, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha on Monday in a written reply.
"The investment of Rs 4,92,312 crore has been made," added Chaudhary, adding that SEZs policy was launched in April 2000, and the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, was passed by the Parliament in May 2005 which received Presidential assent on the 23rd of June, 2005.
"In addition to seven Central government SEZs and 11 state and private sector SEZs set-up prior to the enactment of the SEZs Act, approvals have been accorded to 420 proposals for setting up of SEZs in the country. Of 355 notified SEZs, 230 SEZs are operational," further informed the minister.
Chaudhary further said the Central government had constituted a group of eminent persons under the chairmanship of Baba Kalyani, chairman of Bharat Forge to study the SEZ policy of India on June 4, 2018. One of the terms of the reference for the group was to make the SEZ Policy WTO compatible. "The Group has submitted its report to the Government and its recommendations are being examined through inter-ministerial consultations," he added.