Exports from SEZs down 1.89% in Apr-Dec 2015
India’s total exports originated from special economic zones (SEZs) fell by 1.89% to Rs.3.41 lakh crore during April-December 2015, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Parliament on Monday. In the financial year 2014-15, exports from SEZ’s had fallen by 6.13% to Rs.4.63 lakh crore. “In order to boost exports from SEZs, the government periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of these zones and takes necessary steps to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZs,” Sitharaman said on Monday. The commerce minister stressed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has put a particular emphasis on developing India’s SEZs, as these economic zones hold immense potential to boost the country’s export segment. Sitharaman said the government has, for the last three years and during the current financial year, granted more time to 132 SEZ developers to complete their projects. SEZ units and developers have for long complained to the government about the imposition of dividend distribution tax (DDT) and minimum alternate tax (MAT) stressing that these additional charged have impacted exports from SEZs. In a separate reply, the commerce minister said the government has not imported food grains for its central pool since 2008-09, and further there is no proposal to ban inbound shipments of wheat. Replying to a question on WTO, Sitharaman said India has been pitching for a comprehensive discussion on public stockholding for food security and also on a special safeguard mechanism. "In future meetings also, India will continue to pursue these issues in coordination with other developing countries," the minister said. “The government is committed to pressing the issue of public stockholding at WTO in order to take forward the mandate given in the Bali and Nairobi ministerial conferences,” Sitharaman said.
March 15, 2016 | 01:55pm IST
to success.