Electronic goods export zone to be set up at Oragadam

Chennai, May 8 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will set up a new electronic goods export zone at the hi-tech Special Economic Zone at Oragadam, near here, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi told the State Assembly today.

Replying to the demand for grants for Industries department, he said the new export zone, to come up in a 285-acre area, would attract an initial investment of Rs 1,300 crore and offer direct job opportunities to 23,000 people. The Government had decided to set up the new export zone as several companies had come forward to start industries in the State, he added.

Mr Karunanidhi said the export zone would be set up at the hi-tech SEZ, in which SIPCOT had allotted a total area of 351.85 acres to global companies like Dell Computers, Samsung, Motorola, Foxconn and TAPP Semiconductors Limited to set up their manufacturing facilities.

He announced setting up of an engineering products export zone at Perunthurai in a 250-acre area. Besides, a new Bio-IT Park would be set up at Sriperumbudur at a total cost of Rs 500 crore, generating jobs for 8,000 youth. The park, to come up in a 100-acre area, would be set up by TIDCO in association with the Software Technology Parks of India and Singapore-based Ascendas. This would be the first ever such park to be set up in the country, he added.

The Chief Minister said the Government would set up a third Tidel Park at Taramani in a 25-acre area to serve as the export centre for IT and Communication technology services. Work on Tidel Park-III would commence after the completion of Tidel Park-II, being set up with private investment.

Mr Karunanidhi said as part of industrial development, the Government had sent a proposal to the Centre about Reliance Industries providing gas through pipes to households from the KG basin.

In addition to that, the Government had also advised TIDCO to explore the possibility of forging a joint venture with the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation for sourcing natural gas and supplying to industries and households. ''The Government is continuously working on this project,'' he added.

He also announced setting up of IT parks in Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Salem and Tirunelveli.

UNI