Pillai rubbishes controversy surrounding SEZs

Kolkata, May 26 (UNI) Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry G K Pillai today said the decision regarding Unitech and DLF's clearances for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in West Bengal would be taken on June 12.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of an interactive session with members of the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI), Mr Pillai said the Ministry had received 52 fresh applications, worth Rs 58,000 crores, for SEZs in addition to the already existing 67.

He dismissed the controversies surrounding SEZs that investors were apprehensive about the policies and stability of the government. ''It is a law and passed by both houses of Parliament.

Investors should not be affected by the controversies.'' He went on to add that if it were not for the SEZs, several business units would have ventured outside India to set up their units.

Mr Pillai stated that West Bengal had huge potential, especially in exporting Agricultural and Floricultural products.

At present West Bengal has three SEZs which are operational at Falta, Manikanchan and the Wipro ITES at Salt Lake.

He also informed that Manikanchan SEZ's export performance which was Rs 95.54 crores in 2004-05, had increased to Rs 510 crores in 2005-06.

He said the liberalized rules for SEZs would help attract investments worth Rs 1,00,000 crores in the next three years, besides providing job opportunities for at least 500000 people within 2009.

President of BNCCI Nayantara Palchoudhuri said she is hopeful that another SEZ for tea would be set up at the Kolkata Port. She was referring to the Union Commerce Minister's statement earlier in Kolkata where he said that ten more SEZs would be set up in West Bengal.

UNI SP KK DB1845