Andhra Pradesh home to maximum number of operational SEZs

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh has maximum number of operational special economic zones (38), followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Parliament was informed on Friday.

As on December 31, 2012, a total of 166 special economic zones (SEZs) are operational in the country, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

While in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, there are 33 and 21 operational tax free zones respectively, 19 such zones are in Maharashtra. Chhattisgarh and Orissa each have only one SEZ, which are operational.

These zones are export hubs which enjoy fiscal benefits. Exports from SEZs grew by 36 per cent year-on-year to Rs 2.39 lakh crore during the April-September of this fiscal.

In a separate reply, Sharma said negotiations for the Regional Cooperation for Economic Partnership (RCEP) are at initial stages and only preliminaries have been discussed by different working groups constituted for the purpose.

India would be associated with this major economic bloc with an aim to boost its engagement with the countries of the region.

The initiative involving the 10 ASEAN members and its partners that includes Australia, China, Japan, South Korea New Zealand and India proposes an economic partnership which will form the world's largest economic bloc.