SEZ's Special Economic Zones Big Perks

Special Economic Zones (SEZs), offer India an excellent opportunity for giving a big push to its
growth performance. The focus of economic policy debate in India has decisively shifted to a regime
that exhibits strong export orientation. Looking back, high and sustained economic growth of any
nation is preceded by these kinds of shifts. It is expected that SEZs would become the country's
landmark of infrastructure excellence which would supplement the supply of real estate, improve
investments and generate the much required employment.

It has been two years since the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act and Rules came into effect. While
exports have grown almost 100 per cent to touch Rs 40,000 crore in the first nine months (April-Nov
08), total incremental employment generated by the operational SEZs after February 2006 is 146,128,
according to the Export Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZ (EPCES). Total incremental investment
during the same period is over Rs 70,416 crore. Currently 42 SEZs are operational in the country,
while 197 zones have been notified and are in process of development.