Surat SEZ exports touch Rs 1550 crore in 2004-05

The Surat Special Economic Zone , the only privately developed SEZ in the country, has grossed exports worth Rs 1,550 crore for the financial year 2004-05.

"We had set an export target of Rs 1,500 crore for the financial year, but we have exceeded the target, and have touched Rs 1,554.92 crore," a spokesman of the SEZ told Business Standard.

The spokesman said that gem and jewellery exports accounted for over 70 per cent of the total exports from the zone in the last fiscal year. Textiles were the next highest exported goods, accounting around 7-8 per cent of the total exports, he said.

The exports of Rs 1,554.92 crore is substantially up from Rs 890 crore achieved in 2003-04. The total exports from the zone in 2000-01 were worth Rs 62 crore, which increased to Rs 312 crore in 2001-02. The zone recorded exports of Rs 295 crore in 2002-03.

Buoyed by the stellar performance, the zone has set a target of Rs 2,200 crore in the next fiscal year, the spokesman said.

At present, around 100 units operate in the SEZ.