Zee News quoted Mr R Gopalan additional secretary to the ministry of commerce as saying that central government is set to issue new guidelines for power and port SEZs.
Speaking at the ASSOCHAM organized SEZ conclave on the eve of Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2009, Mr Gopalan said that the global slowdown has affected the SEZs and around 15% of losses have been reported in the units located in the SEZs. He said that "We are in the process of announcing interim measures to contain job losses in the SEZs."
Mr LB Singhal director general of Export Promotion Councils for export oriented units and SEZs said that "The Central government has decided to accord the status of 'infrastructure project' to all SEZs and formal announcement will be made after obtaining views of the RBI."
Mr Singhal said that the concept of SEZ is going to stay and are already in 138 countries in the world, providing 67.86 million direct jobs with a total investment of USD 1,596 billion and exporting to the extent of USD 750 billion.
He added that in two and a half years, the SEZs in India have attracted a capital investment of INR 90,000 crore, more than INR 66,000 crore worth of goods exported to over 60 countries and have provided employment to 350,000 workers.
Mr Singhal said that SEZ is a long gestation period concept and therefore the Centre and State governments must provide 'Single Window Facilities.
On the number of SEZs given approval so far, he said that 545 SEZs have been given approval while 272 have been notified and 87 have become operational in the country.
Source : zeenews.com