The Board of Approval of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) met on 2^nd January 2008 to consider proposals for setting up of Special Economic Zones and also approve other miscellaneous requests pertaining to SEZs.

Addressing the Board of Approval members, the Chairman informed that so far formal approvals have been granted for setting up of 404 SEZs out of which 187 have been notified as on date. He informed that over Rs.52193 crores have been invested in these notified SEZs and that these SEZs are providing direct employment to over 59356 persons.   Employment to over 35477 persons have also been provided by the new generation private sector/State Government SEZs which came up prior to the SEZ Act.  This is in addition to the employment provided by the 7 Central Government established SEZs which is over 1.75 lakh persons. 

In this meeting, 44 proposals for setting up SEZs, including 7 proposals for conversion of in-principle approvals to formal approvals were considered.  The Board recommended grant of 24 Formal approvals and 4 In-principle approvals:  Prominent among them are:  

· Formal approvals:

> Sector-specific Steel SEZ in Tamil Nadu by M/s SAIL Salem SEZ Private Limited.

> Electronic Hardware SEZ in Tamil Nadu by M/s Best & Crompton Engineering Limited.

> IT/ITES SEZ in Uttar Pradesh by M/s Unitech Hi-tech Projects Private Limited.

> Multi Product SEZ in Andhra Pradesh by Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).

> Multi Services SEZ in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh by M/s Gwalior Agricultural Company.

> IT/ITES SEZ in Uttar Pradesh by M/s Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Corporation Limited.

>  2 Electronic Hardware and Software including IT/ITES SEZ in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh by M/s Uppal Housing Limited.

· Conversion of In Principle approval to Formal approval for:

> 2 sector-specific SEZs for Engineering and Pharma and Fine Chemicals in Gujarat by M/s Dishman Infrastructure Limited.

>  Pharma SEZ in Andhra Pradesh by M/s Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited.

· Prominent among the In Principle approvals are two approvals each for M/s Vibrant ILFS Consortium and M/s Vibrant Realtors Private Limited in Maharasthra for FTWZ and Multi Services SEZs respectively.

SEZ approvals: Board recommends formal and in principle clearances to advance sectoral SEZ projects and investment facilitation. The Board of Approval recommended grant of 24 formal approvals and 4 in principle approvals from 44 proposals, including conversions of earlier in principle permissions; approvals cover sector specific, Electronic Hardware, IT/ITES, Multi Product, Multi Services and FTWZ projects, evidencing the procedural move from in principle clearance to formal approval to facilitate investment and employment under the SEZ framework.