Govt planning export promotion council for SEZs, EPZs

NEW DELHI: The government is considering setting up an export promotion council for Special Economic Zones and Export Processing Zones in order to provide a filip to exports, minister of state for commerce and industry Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
"We are exploring the possibility of setting up an export promotion council specially for SEZs and have asked the Confederation of Export Units to see if the same can be converted into a council for SEZs and EPZs," he told PTI here.
"In case the CEU is unable to form such a council we will consider floating a new council," he said.
Rudy pointed out that the proposal to set up a council specially dedicated to the SEZs and EPZs was being considered in view of several EPZs and SEZs making such a demand.
"During my own visit to the Falta Export Processing Zone or the Cochin SEZ, the exporters have raised the demand for a council specially for SEZ and EPZ. Setting up such a council will provide these zones a platform to air their concerns and allow the Government also to give more focussed attention to these zones," he said.
The government had set up seven export processing zones of which four have been converted into Special Economic Zones. In addition to the EPZs, government has approved the setting up of 13 SEZs.