New Delhi, Sept. 2 Global economic downturn has bogged down the trade world over.
However, product-specific economic zones in Uttar Pradesh have managed to emerge unscathed. Exports from Moradabad Special Economic Zone (SEZ) stood at Rs 14.33 crore registering an increase of 27.5 per cent in 2008-2009 as against Rs 11.24 crore a year ago.
Noida
SEZ posted a three per cent dip in 2008-09 at Rs 16,308 crore in comparison with Rs 16,843.37 crore a year ago.
Together, these two government SEZs employ more than 30,000 people directly.
On the other hand, total exports by private functional special economic zones in Uttar Pradesh registered a growth of 300 per cent in 2008-09 over the previous year.
Private SEZs include Moser Baer India Ltd (non-conventional energy), Wipro Technologies Ltd (IT/ITeS) at Greater Noida and HCL Technologies Ltd (IT/ITeS) along with Seaview Developers Ltd (IT/ITeS) at Noida.
It was mainly possible because excluding Moser Baer India Ltd, three of these four SEZs became operational in the later part of financial year 2007-08 or in the first quarter of 2008-09.
With total investment of Rs 1,262.21 crore till now, Moser Baer SEZ exported goods worth Rs 126 crore in 2007-08, which has increased to Rs 321 crore in 2008-09.
Combined export figures of all private SEZs in Uttar Pradesh in 2008-09 comes out to Rs 506.30 crore with a total investment of Rs 1,806.69 crore, providing direct employment to over 5,000.
Meanwhile, with an aim to enhance productivity of SEZs, the Government took stock of the issues related to SEZs in the State.
In a high-level meeting of Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department, a range of issues regarding Special Economic Zones in Uttar Pradesh were taken up in order to resolve them on a case-to-case basis. The meeting was attended by senior Government officials and representatives from SEZs. There are 16 SEZs in Uttar Pradesh which have been notified and ready to be operational soon. Besides, 19 SEZs were formally approved by Board of Approvals including six more government SEZs.
Source : Business Line