Government has granted in-principle approval to five National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) outside the DMIC region. These are: (i) Nagpur in Maharashtra (ii) Tumkur in Karnataka (iii) Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh (iv)Medak in Andhra Pradesh and (v) Prakasam in Andhra Pradesh. The state governments have to acquire the necessary land before any investment to be made in these zones.

Countries like Russia, Japan, USA, Germany and Britain have shown interest in the implementation of the National Manufacturing Policy. However, no specific investment proposals in respect of NIMZ have been received from these countries.

The National Manufacturing Policy (NMP) provides inter-alia for:

i. Relief from Capital Gains Tax on sale of plant and machinery of a unit located in a National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in case of re-investment of sale consideration within a period of three years for purchase of new plant & machinery in any other unit located in the same NIMZ or another NIMZ. [Para 3.5 of the policy]

ii. Rollover relief from long term Capital Gains tax to individuals on sale of a residential property (house or plot of land) in case of re-investment of sale consideration in the equity of a new start-up SME company in the manufacturing sector for the purchase of a new plant and machinery. [Para 6.2(i) of the policy]

iii. Simple and expeditious exit mechanism for closure of sick units while protecting labour interests; [Para 1.12(ii) of the policy]

iv. In respect of environmental laws/regulations, inspection by specially trained/designated/notified agencies for third party inspection to supplement the inspection by the Government agencies for compliance monitoring. [Para 2.3(ii) of the policy]

The information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan in Lok Sabha today.

Capital gains relief for reinvestment in manufacturing units within national investment and manufacturing zones enabled under new policy. Grant of in-principle approval for five National Investment and Manufacturing Zones requires state governments to acquire necessary land prior to investment. The National Manufacturing Policy offers capital gains relief for reinvestment of sale proceeds from plant and machinery into new plant and machinery within three years in the same or another NIMZ; rollover relief for individuals who reinvest residential sale proceeds into equity of new start-up manufacturing SMEs for plant and machinery; an expedited exit mechanism protecting labour interests; and third-party environmental inspection by designated agencies.