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Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, is scheduled to hold an Open House Meeting with Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Oriented Units (EOUs) in Mumbai to elicit feedback from EOU & SEZ units on the operation of these schemes and to get their suggestions for the forthcoming Budget and the Foreign Trade Policy. The interactive meeting is being organised by the Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs. Earlier, Shri Kamal Nath has said that he would be introducing a bill on SEZ in the next session of the Parliament. The bill would include Bio-Technology Parks and Free Trade & Warehousing Zones. In all these, FDI up to 100% would be permitted, including in real-estate development and establishment of the zones.
Apart from Shri Kamal Nath, the Open House will be attended by Shri G.K. Pillai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce; Shri V. Madhavan Nair, Development Commissioner, Santa Cruz Electronic Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ); Shri Anthony de Sa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry; Shri Rahul Khullar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce; Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise; representatives of CBEC and CBDT and other senior government officials of Central and State government of Maharashtra as well as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and DGFT.
This year in the first six months, EOU/SEZ sector has exceeded the target of 20%. SEZs have shown a growth of 31% and EOUs have shown a growth of 28% in rupee terms. Exports from EOUs and SEZ sector are likely to touch Rs.50,000 crore this year i.e. 2004-05. The Council has said that SEZ Act must be enacted at the earliest to provide quantum jump to exports and to attract investments.
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SB/MRS
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