Six new SEZ proposals cleared

New Delhi, March 20; The Board of Approval for SEZs on Thursday cleared six fresh proposals for setting up special economic zones in the country, taking the total number of such approved zones to more than 450.

The Board of Approval (BoA), chaired by the Commerce Secretary, Mr Gopal K. Pillai, took up nine proposals, of which five were granted formal approvals and one in-principle. Excluding the six approvals granted today, the board has granted formal approvals to 449 SEZs, of which 206 have been notified.

Of the five formal approvals granted today, four are for setting up IT/ITES zones by Brigade Enterprises in Karnataka, Wellgrow Buildcon and Sunwise Properties in Haryana and Smart City (Kochi) Infrastructure in Kerala.

The in-principle approval granted to Smart City (Kochi) Infrastructure was converted to formal nod today.

Also, a biotech project in Andhra Pradesh by Vivo Bio Tech Ltd was given formal approval. An engineering SEZ in Maharashtra by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) was granted the in-principle approval, an official release said here today.