BoA grants 20 formal, 7 in-principle approvals

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) The Board of Approval of the special economic zones (SEZs) today recommended grant of 20 formal approvals and seven in-principle approvals, including IT/ITES SEZs from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Cognizant Technology SEZ in Andhra Pradesh.

In all 31 applications for setting up SEZs, which included four proposals for conversion of in-principle approvals to formal approvals, were considered, it said in a statement.

Others include agro and food-processing SEZ by Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Ltd at Dimapur in Nagaland, multi-services SEZ by Gujarat Finance City Development Company Ltd in Gandhinagar, two IT/ITES SEZs by APIIC in Kakinada and Chittor in Andhra Pradesh.

The in-principle approvals approval for textiles SEZ by Alok Infrastructure Private Ltd in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Multi-Product SEZ by Sterling Erection and Infrastructure Private Ltd in Bharuch, Gujarat have been convented to formal approval.

In-principle approvals for sector-specific SEZ for providing products and related services for oil and gas, energy and petrochemicals by Gujarat Hydrocarbon and Energy SEZ Ltd in Gujarat, multi product SEZ by Gitanjali Gems Ltd in Nagpur, Maharashtra has also been received.

Earlier, while addressing the BoA members, Chairman G K Pillai said that so far formal approvals have been granted for setting up of 366 SEZs, out of which 142 have been notified.

He informed that over Rs 46,705 crore have been invested in these notified SEZs and that these are providing direct employment to over 40,153 persons.

In addition to this, the 12 private/state government SEZs notified prior to coming into force of SEZ Act, 2005 are providing direct employment to over 15,000 persons, making the total employment provided by the new generation SEZs to over 55,000 persons.

UNI