The Board of Approval of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) met here today to consider proposals for setting up of Special Economic Zones and also to approve other miscellaneous requests pertaining to SEZs.

            Addressing the Board of Approval members, the Chairman informed that so far 574 formal approvals have been granted for setting up of SEZs out of which 353 have been notified.  He further informed that over Rs. 1,28,390 crore have been invested in the Special Economic Zones during this short span of time and direct employment of the order of 4,89,831 persons has been generated in the Special Economic Zones.  During the first three quarters of current financial year, total export of Rs. 1,52,092 crore approximately has been made from SEZs.

            In this meeting, seven proposals for setting up of SEZs, including one proposal for conversion of in-principle approvals in to formal approvals were considered.  The Board recommended grant of six formal approvals.

·           Formal Approvals:

Ø      Biotech - M/s. Indus Gene Expressions Limited at Kodur and Settipalli village, Chilamathur Mandal, Ananthapur Distt., Andhra Pradesh.

Ø      Airport Based SEZ - M/s. Cochin International Airport Ltd., Angamali village, Ernakulam, Kerala.

Ø      Biotech and related activities - M/s. Shantha Biotechnics Limited, Muppireddipally Village, Toopran Mandal, Medak Distt., Andhra Pradesh.

Ø      Biotechnology - M/s. Suchirindia Infrastructure Private Limited at Turkapally Village, Shameerpet Mandal, Ranga Reddy Distt., Andhra Pradesh.

Ø      Solar SEZ - M/s. Lanco Solar Private Limited at Mahroomkala, Mahroomkala, Mahroomkurd and Chaveli villages, Rajnandgaon Distt. Chhattisgarh.

Ø      Cooper - M/s. Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd., at TV Puram, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.

            Among other items, seven proposals for grant of co-developer status were approved.

Ø         M/s. Aachvis softech Private Ltd., IT/ITES at Plot No. 7, Sector 144, Noida, Uttar Pradesh: M/s. Aachvis IT SEZ Infra Private Limited, M/s. Progressive Techmart IT Services Private Limited, M/s. Multitask Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd., M/s. Standard IT Web Solutions Pvt. and M/s. AS Multimedia Solutions Private Limited as Co-developers.

Ø         M/s. Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd., Multi Product at Dwarkapuram Village, Naidupet Mandal, Nellore Distt. Andhra Pradesh: M/s. Greentech Industries (India) Pvt. Ltd. as Co-Developer.

Ø         M/s. Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society Limited, IT/ITES at Village Nellikode, Distt. Kozhikkode, Kerala: M/s. ULCCS IT Infrastructure Private Ltd. as a co-developer.

SEZ formal approvals and co developer recognitions expand authorised zone projects and enable infrastructure and sectoral development. The Board of Approval authorised six formal SEZ project approvals across sectors including biotechnology, airport-based operations, solar and copper activities, and approved multiple co-developer recognitions for IT/ITES and multi-product SEZ projects, designating specific private and cooperative entities as authorised co-developers to participate in development and infrastructure provision under the SEZ regulatory framework.