Administrative Set up for Special Economic Zones.
Introduction
The functioning of SEZs is governed by a three-tier administrative set-up. The Board of Approval is the apex body and is headed by the Secretary, Department of Commerce. The Approval Committee at the Zone level deals with approval of units in the SEZs and other related issues.
Board of Approval
The Board of Approval has been constituted by the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred under the SEZ Act. All the major decisions are taken by the Board of Approval. The Board of Approval has 19 Members which are as follows:
Table-Board of Members - SEZ units
| 1. | Secretary, Department of Commerce | Chairman |
| 2. | Member, CBEC | Member |
| 3. | Member, IT, CBDT | Member |
| 4. | Joint Secretary (SEZ), Department of Commerce | Member |
| 5. | Joint Secretary, DIPP | Member |
| 6. | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology | Member |
| 7. | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries | Member |
| 8 . | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs | Member |
| 9. | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence | Member |
| 10. | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests | Member |
| 11. | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice | Member |
| 12. | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs | Member |
| 13. | Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development | Member |
| 14. | A nominee of the State Government concerned | Member |
| 15. | Director General of Foreign Trade or his nominee | Member |
| 16. | Development Commissioner concerned | Member |
| 17. | A professor in the Indian Institute of Management or the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade | Member |
| 18. | Director or Deputy Sectary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce | Member Secretary |
Unit Approval Committee
All the request for setting up of units in the SEZ are approved at the Zone level by the Approval Committee consisting of Development Commissioner after a discussion with the Customs Authorities and representatives of State Government. All post approval clearances in matters related to importer-exporter code number, change in the name of the company or implementing agency; broad banding diversification, etc. are given at the zonal level by the Development Commissioner. A separate units is also there who monitor the performance of the SEZ units on a periodic basis and is governed by the Approval Committee. SEZ units are liable for penal action under the provision of Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, in case of any violation in the rules formulated by the Approval Committee.
SEZs / EOUs, each zone are headed by a Development Commissioner, who is also heading the Unit Approval Committee. Development Commissioner is the nodal officer for SEZs and help in resolution of problem, if any, faced by the units or developer. In all SEZ’s, the statutory functions are controlled by the Government while the rest of the operations are privatized.