Four SEZs approved for Punjab: Commerce Secretary

Ludhiana, May 4 (UNI) Union Commerce Secretary G K Pillai today said that four SEZs had been approved by the Central Government for Punjab.

The remaining seven will be approved soon, as all formalities of these projects had been completed, he said while talking to mediapersons here after taking part in 'Open House' programme with entrepreneurs. The programme was organised by the Export Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZ units.

Mr Pillai said that his ministry had received a number of applications from private companies for setting up SEZs in Punjab.

The DLF group has expressed its desire to set up five SEZs in the border state, he added.

Mr Pillai said that 100 SEZs have already started operations in the country and the government proposes to start another 134 by the end of this fiscal year. These 234 SEZs involving an investment of one lakh crore would provide direct employment to about five lakh persons, he added.

Earlier addressing the 'Open House', Council DG L B Singhal said that at present there are over 3100 EOUs/SEZ units in operation in the country and exports from these was over Rs 72,000 crore. EOU schemes need to be nurtured properly along with the SEZ scheme, as this scheme offers geographical advantage as the unit can be located in any part of the country,he added.

Mr Singhal was of the viewpoint that the EOU scheme must be extended the income tax benefit beyond 2009. Similarly the MAT provision, which had been made applicable to EOUs in this years Union Budget, should be removed, he added.

UNI