Despite being the largest contributor in exports, Gujarat ranks fourth in terms of number of special economic zones (SEZs) operational in the country and fifth in terms of notified SEZs.
In terms of formal approvals, the state is ranked sixth.
This, however, hasn’t dampened Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of making Gujarat the ‘SEZ capital of the country’, as the state’s contribution is highest among all other states — over half the country’s overall exports.
Gujarat is all set to contribute over Rs 1 lakh crore (its exports crossed Rs 94,000 crore till February) of the total Rs 2 lakh crore exports that the country is expected to touch by end of this financial year. While a major portion of this export would come from Reliance’s Jamnagar SEZ (Rs 75,000 crore), the Surat SEZ is poised to emerge as the country’s second-largest industrial enclave with its exports crossing Rs 20,000 crore, said government sources close to the development.
| STATE OF AFFAIRS | |||
| State | Formal approvals | In-principle approvals | Notified SEZs |
| Maharashtra | 109 | 36 | 57 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 102 | 4 | 72 |
| Tamil Nadu | 68 | 19 | 55 |
| Karnataka | 52 | 9 | 29 |
| Gujarat | 48 | 11 | 30 |
Gujarat is at number four with 10 operational SEZs, while Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are ahead of the state.
Andhra Pradesh leads with 21 operational SEZs against Tamil Nadu’s 19. Maharashtra and Karnataka rank third, with 15 SEZs operational SEZs each.
In all, there are 105 operational SEZs in the country with an overall export of Rs 1.5 lakh crore till December 31, 2009, according to official figures by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Formal approvals have been accorded to 571 proposals, of which 348 SEZs have been notified. In Gujarat, so far 48 SEZs have formally been approved out of which 30 have been notified.
Maharashtra has been approved 109 SEZs — the highest in the country — of which 57 have been notified.
In Andhra Pradesh, a total of 102 SEZs have been formally approved so far, while 72 have been notified.
Karnataka has 52 enclaves of which 29 have been notified, while another southern state Tamil Nadu has total 68 approved SEZs, of which 55 have been notified.
States like Uttar Pradesh have six operational SEZs, while Rajasthan and Haryana have three SEZs exporting each.
