In sharp contrast to the stand taken by his secretary yesterday, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath on Thursday said the Centre can review all special economic zones in Goa as it does not want to thrust SEZs on the states.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials on Monday visited the Mukesh Ambani-promoted Special Economic Zone at Jamnagar to ascertain the area used for setting up the export zone.
The eGoM, headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is likely to take up issues including demand from developers to revise the 5,000 hectare land ceiling for one SEZ.
"We will write to the Centre to scrap the eight proposals pending for approval while we will not notify the four (SEZs) that are already approved. About the rest three, we will take up the matter with the Centre to denotify them," said Chief Minister Digamber Kamat.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday favoured a compensation policy that ensures adequate return to farmers for giving up land holding rights in favour of any upcoming special economic zone project.
Make in India and Swacch Bharat initiatives are going to have tremendous impact on the Home and Personal Care industry.
The department of commerce may de-recognise the 247-hectare engineering special economic zone at Hazira, promoted by Essar Hazira SEZ Ltd.
In a major relief to Adani Group, the Supreme Court on Wednesday vacated the stay order that stalled work at its Rs 7,400-crore (Rs 74 billion) multi-product Special Economic Zone in Gujarat.
The Board of Approvals on Wednesday gave final clearance to 15 Special Economic Zones but deferred a decision on the Navi Mumbai zone promoted by Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani and Anand Jain.
This is the largest foreign direct investment proposal in the state and represents a five-fold increase from an earlier announcement by GFH for a $2 billion to $2.5 billion investment in an "energy city".
Within a fortnight of Commerce Secretary G K Pillai talking about a possible relaxation of cap on land size for SEZs, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said on Tuesday there was no proposal to change the 5,000 hectare ceiling prescribed by a group of ministers. However, the Centre would look at specific proposals from states once the Resettlment and Rehabilitation Policy is implemented, he said.
The Reliance Industries special economic zone at Jamnagar in Gujarat, which had been given a sector-specific status (petroleum and petro-chemicals) earlier, was today modified to a multi-product zone by the board of approval, which met in New Delhi.
The government may look at relaxing 5,000 hectare-ceiling on land for Special Economic Zones once the the Land Acquisition Act is in place, commerce secretary G K Pillai said on Monday. "Now that the new Relief & Rehabilitation policy has come into being, the government may think of relaxing the upper limit of 5,000 hectares for SEZs (once the land acquisition law is enacted), he said on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit.
The Adani Group's Mundra Port plans to raise $400 million from its initial public offering for expansion of facilities.
Noting that the CPI-M will oppose UPA's policies both inside and outside the government, he said his party has not discussed the issue of withdrawing support to the Central government.
Shares in one of India's few privately owned deepwater ports will start trading on Tuesday after an initial public offering valuing the equity of Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone at about $4.5 billion.
India has set a target of $160 billion for merchandise exports during 2007-08.
The trouble is, in backward areas where infrastructure is weak, the impact of SEZ on access to water would be even more serious.
The government will not stop companies from filing fresh applications seeking permission to set up special economic zones. However, it will not process any fresh applications until it clears the backlog of over 360 pending proposals.
Based in the Cochin Special Economic Zone, Nikasu has managed to become the largest supplier of spring rolls and samosas to the US where it retails under the popular Laxmi brand (belonging to distributor House of Spices). In the UK, its products are sold as 'Taj' by Solanki Foods and are available at the supermarket chain Tesco. Another young but doughty exporter, Aakriti Foods, that makes Indian curries is also keen to launch its brand Mom's Pride in India.
Sources close to the development said RIL, which was planning two adjacent economic zones in the coastal district of Raigarh in Maharashtra, is looking to set up three special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to develop the various components of the project.
The Maharashtra government has turned down Centre's proposal to scale down the size of Reliance Industries' Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone
Reliance Industries will set up two gas-based captive power plants to generate a combined 1100 MW for its special economic zone in Maharashtra and also its malls and other projects.
Rejecting short cuts like creating small pockets with latest amenities, an official committee has recommended that to make Mumbai a truly global financial hub by 2020, the infrastructure of the entire city should be improved.
Andhra Pradesh is to house the country's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The first phase of the project, meant to house about 60 SME pharmaceutical manufacturing units in 200 acres of land is to be ready by mid-2008.
Government said on Tuesday it was commited to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's mega investment plans in petrochemical projects and special economic zone at Mangalore and there was no going back on it.
Exports double, while jobs and investments show robust growth rate. The commerce ministry has projected exports from the zones at around Rs 1,25,950 crore (Rs 1,259.5 billion) in 2008-09, growth of 89 per cent over the previous year.
The Union Cabinet has approved the policy framework for establishing a Non-resident Indian/Person of Indian Origin (NRI/PIO) university in India.
Replying to the general discussion on Budget in Lok Sabha, she said the former Congress chief was creating fake narratives but does not have patience to listen to replies on allegations levelled against the government.
The same political aide to chief minister's office who had spoken to rediff.com about Bhattacharjee's intent to step down on Monday said over telephone a day after, "I have never seen Buddhababu so perturbed as he was yesterday."
Trinamul Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi on the violence in Nandigram.
Amid a raging controversy over acquisition of land for special economic zones, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Saturday the government has an 'open mind' about 'refining' the SEZ policy.
West Bengal government puts on hold all special economic zones in the state until a 'socially balanced' decision is taken in this regard.
Mumbai-based Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd, the largest manufacturer of enzymes in the country, will invest Rs 115 crore to set up three biotech production facilities.
The board formally approved 10 SEZs, including a 16 hectare IT zone of Tata Consultancy Services in Kolkata, Saloni Business Park Private Ltd's 27.5 hectare biotech zone in Thane and a 4.77 hectare electronic hardware and IT zone in Raigad, proposed by Modern India Property Developer.
Fresh notifications and approvals for setting up Special Economic Zones are being put on hold till an Empowered Group of Ministers looking into the matter takes a final view, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
But commerce ministry works on rules for exemption to contractors.
G K Pillai, chairman of India's Board of Approval for SEZs, demystifies SEZs and the controversy surrounding them.
G K Pillai, who heads the government's SEZ panel, demystifies SEZs and the controversy surrounding them.
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