Sursez stressing on creating good work environment

Surat, Feb 19 (UNI) Surat Special Economic Zone (Sursez) is stressing more on creating a conducive work environment where production can be done in a peaceful atmosphere, chairman of Sursez, Sharma Nand Sharma here said today.

''Ours is one of the highly successful multipurpose SEZs in the country. We achieved this position by creating a hassle-free atmosphere for both the entreprenures and workers. Sursez has achieved a high growth of Rs 2,337 crore in exports in the last financial year and is expected to grow upto Rs 3,300 crore in the current financial year. It is the first SEZ in the private sector and is the only operating private sector SEZ in the entire country,'' Mr Sharma claimed.

Talking to UNI he said SEZs have a major role to play in the economic development of the country.

''In fact two major countries in the world, China and Dubai, are mainly depending on SEZs to hasten their growth. In the case of China it was natural that being a country which lagged industrially for many years, that they used the advantages of SEZ to further the industrial growth. But even a highly industrialised and developed country like Dubai is also now depending on SEZs to achieve higher growth. This proves that the concept of SEZ has a great importance in the industrial development of the future,'' he added.

Mr Sharma said SEZs helps to increase the productivity of the firms operating there and also helps to reduce the cost drastically. This creates a marketing advantages for the firms.

In Sursez there are already 125 units operating around in various sectors and 28 units are under construction.

The units are engaged in manufacturing and trading of gems and jewelry, diamond, garments, laser machines, zari, yarn, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and perfumes.

Sursez which is spread over a sprawling 125 acres, now needs more land for its expansion, the chairman said.

An inland container depot (ICD) with full-time custom services and warehousing facilities helps in the import-export need of the firms operating in Sursez. Perhaps one of the best advantages of the Sursez is that it is located in an area in the city which was not affected even during a highly destructive flood, he said.

''Special economic zones have become a major movers of the industrial development of Gujarat and especially in Surat they are going to play a major role in the years to come. Even though our SEZ is one of the smallest in the country it has already created a model for many other multipurpose SEZs,'' he added.

UNI