International Journal of History and Research (IJHR) ISSN 2249-6963 Vol. 3, Issue 4, Oct 2013, 13-18 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd. SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN INDIA – AN INTROSPECTION B. LAL Deputy Director, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India ABSTRACT “The main objective of this Article is to throw light on the Importance of SEZ’s in India in general and major issues. Industrial policy resolution of April, 1948 contemplated a mixed economy, reserving a sphere for the private sector and public sector. Protectionism and Control system was followed up to 1991. If the SEZ policy is to provide a real economic input, especially in the form of erection of world – class infrastructure, the minimum size for multi-product, multi-service, and sector, specific zones should be much higher, compatible with International norms. Current phenomenon of mushrooming of small SEZ’s largely of IT/ITES only in and around major cities”. KEYWORDS: SEZ Rules, EPZ, Free Zones, Industrial Estates, Free Ports INTRODUCTION A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a geographical region that has economic laws which are more liberal than a country's typical economic laws. The category 'SEZ' covers a broad range of more specific zone types, including Free Trade Zones, Export Processing Zones, Free Zones, Industrial Estates, Free Ports, Urban Enterprise Zones and others. Usually the goal of an SEZ structure is to Increase foreign investment. One of the earliest and most famous SEZs were founded by the Government of the People's Republic of China under Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s. The most successful SEZ in China, Shenzhen, has developed from a small village into a city with a population over 10 million and attracted over $ 30 billion foreign investments with in 20 years. Following the Chinese example, SEZs have been established in several countries, including Brazil, India, Iran, Jordan, and Kazakhstan, Pakistan the Philippines, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. North Korea has also attempted this to a degree, but failed. Currently, Pune and Peru have stated to become" Zona Economica". A single SEZ can contain multiple' ‘specific’ zones, within its boundaries. The two most prominent examples of this layered approach are: Subic Bay in the Philippines and the Aqaba SEZ in Jordan. According to the World Bank estimates, as of 2007, there were approximately 4000 Special Investment Zones operating in 120 countries worldwide, which accounts for over US $ billion in exports and about 50 million jobs. India was one of the first in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Arsis’s first EPZ set up in Kandla in Gujarat in 1965 with a view to overcome the short comings experienced on account of the multiple city of controls and clearances, absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign investments in India, the SEZs policy was announced in April, 2000. The policy intended to make SEZ an engine for economic growth supported by quality infrastructure complemented by an attractive physical package both at the central and the state level, with the minimum possible 14 B. Lal regulations. SEZs in India functioned from 1-11-2000 to 09-02-2006 under the provisions of Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) and fiscal incentives were made effective thorough the provisions of relevant statutes. In order to instill confidence in investors and signal the Government's commitment to a stable SEZ policy regime and to impart stability to the SEZ regime there by generating greater economic activity and employment through the establishment of SEZs, a comprehensive draft SEZ Bill prepared after extensive discussions with the stakeholders. A number of meetings were held in various parts of the country both by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as well as senior officials for this purpose. The SEZs Act, 2005 was passed by Parliament in May, 2005 which received Presidential rd assent on 23 June, 2005. The draft SEZ Rules were widely discussed and put on the Website of the Department of Commerce offering suggestions/comments. Around 800 suggestions were received on the draft rules. After extensive consultations, the SEZ Act, 2005, supported by SEZ Rules, came into effect on 10th February, 2006, providing for drastic simplification of procedure for single window clearance on matters relating to Central as well as State Governments. The main objectives of the SEZ Act are: 1) Generation of additional economic activity. 2) Promotion of export of goods and services. 3) Promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources 4) creation of employment opportunities, and 5) development of infrastructural facilities. A Single Window SEZ approval mechanism has been provided through a 19 member inter-ministerial SEZ Board of Approvals (BoA). The applications duly recommended by the respective State Governments/Union Territory Administrations are considered by this BoA periodically. All decisions of the Board of Approvals are with consensus. The SEZ Rules provide for different minimum land requirement for different class of SEZs. Every SEZ is divided into a processing area where alone the SEZ units would come up and in the non-processing area where the supporting infrastructure is to be created. APPROVAL MECHANISM The developer submits the proposal for establishment of SEZ to the concerned State Government. It will forward the proposal with a recommendation within 45 days from the date of receipt of such proposal to the BoA. The applicant also has the option to submit the proposal directly to the BoA. ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP The BoA constituted by the Central Government has all the powers and all the decisions are taken in the Board by consensus. The Board has 19 members. Its constitution is as follows: The functioning of the SEZs is governed by a threetier administrative set up. The BoA is the apex body and is headed by the Secretary, Department of Commerce. The Approval Committee at the Zone level deals with the approval units in the SEZ and other relative issues. Each Zone is headed by a Development Commissioner, who is ex-officio Chair Person of the Approval Committee. Once a SEZ has been approved by the BoA and the Central Government has notified the area of the SEZ, Units are allowed to be set up in the SEZ. All the proposals for the SEZ are approved at the Zonal level by the Approval Committee consisting of Development Commissioner, Customs Authorities and the representatives of State Governments. All post-approval clearances including grant of importer-exporter code no, change in the name of the company or implementing agency, broad banding diversification etc. are given at the Zone level by the Development Commissioner. The performance of the SEZ Units are periodically monitored by the Approval Committee and units are liable for penal action in case of the violation of the conditions of the approval. Special Economic Zones in India – An Introspection 15 INCENTIVES AND FACILITIES OFFERED TO THE SEZS The incentives and facilities offered to the Units in SEZs for attracting investments into the SEZs, including foreign investment include: *Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and maintenance of SEZ Units * 100% Income Tax exemption on export income for SEZ units for first 5 years, 50% for next 5 years thereafter and 50% of the ploughed back export for next 5 years * Exemption from minimum alternate tax *External commercial borrowing by SEZ Units up to US $ 500 million in a year without any maturity restriction through the recognized banking channels * Exemption from Central Sales Tax * Exemption from Service Tax * Single Window Clearance for Central and State level approvals * Exemption from Sales Tax and other levies as extended by the respective State Governments. SEZ APPROVAL STATUS Consequent upon the SEZ Rules coming into effect w.e.f. 10-2-2006, 29 meetings of the BoA have since been held and during these meetings, formal approval has been granted to 531 SEZ proposals. There are 143 valid in-principle approvals. Out of 531, 260 have been notified. Though the Finance Ministry suggested for ceiling of setting up of 150 SEZs, the Ministry of Commerce prevailed over the decision with the support of the Cabinet and ultimately the ceiling has been removed. LAND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL OF SEZs The total land requirement for the formal approvals granted till date is approximately 67772 hectares out which about 109 approvals are for State Industrial Development Corporations/State Government Ventures, which account for over 20893 hectares. In these cases, the land already available with the SIDCs/ State Governments or with Private Companies has been utilized for setting up SEZs. The land for the 260 notified SEZs where operations have since commenced involved approximately over 29953 hectares only. Out of the total land area of 2973 Sq.Km. in India, total agricultural land is of the order of 1620388 Sq.Km (52.5%). It is interesting to note that out of this total land area the land in possession of 260 SEZ”s notified amounts to approximately 299 Sq.Km only. The Formal approvals granted also works out to only around 677 Sq.Km. SEZs -LEADING TO THE GROWTH OF LABOUR INTENSIVE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY Out of the 531 formal approvals given, 184 approvals are for sector specific and multi-product SEZs for manufacture of Textiles of Apparels, Leather Footwear, Automobile components, Engineering etc. which would involve labour intensive manufacturing. SEZs are going to lead to creation of employment for large number of unemployed rural youth. Nokia and Flextronics electronics hardware SEZs in Sriperembudur in Tamil Nadu are already providing employment to 13722 and 629 persons respectively. Hyderabad Gems SEZ for Jewellery manufacturing in Hyderabad has already employed 1500 persons. Apache SEZ being set in Andhra Pradesh will employ 30000 persons to manufacture one lakh pairs of shoes every month. Current employment in Apache SEZ is 5,325 persons. Brandix Apparels, a Srilankan FDI Project would provide employment to 60000 workers over a period of 3 years. Even in the service sector, 12.5 million Sq.l1 1etre space is expected in the IT/ITES SEZs, which as per the NASSCOM standards translates 12.5 lakhs jobs. It is therefore, expected that establishment of SEZs would lead to fast growth of labour incentive manufacturing services in the country. 16 B. Lal BENEFITS DERIVED FROM SEZS Benefits derived from SEZs is evident from the investment, employment, exports and infrastructure developments additionally generated. The benefits derived from multiplier effect of the investments and additional economic activity in the SEZs and the employment generated thus will far outweigh the tax exemption and the losses on account of land acquisition. Stability in fiscal concessions is absolutely essentially to ensure credibility of Government intensions. Table 1: Exports from the Functions SEZs Year 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Value (Rs.Crores) 13854 18534 22840 34615 66638 122840 124610 165836 176842 Growth Rate (in %) (over Previous Year) 39 32 25 52 92 93 94 95 96 INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE SEZs SET UP PRIOR TO THE SEZ ACT, 2005 At present 1897 Units are in operation in the SEZs. In the SEZs established prior to the Act coming into force, there are 1141 Units providing direct employment to over 1.99 lakhs persons, about 35% of whom are women. Private investment by entrepreneurs in these SEZs established prior to the SEZs Act is of the order of over Rs. 4043.28 Crore. CURRENT INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYMENT Investment : Rs. 173348 Employment: 200855 persons The overwhelming response to the SEZ scheme is evident from the flow of investment and creation of additional employment in the country. The SEZ scheme has generated tremendous response amongst the investors, both in India and abroad, which is evident from the list of the developers who have set up SEZs. SEZs. *Nokia SEZ in Tamil Nadu * Quark City SEZ in Chandigarh * Flextronics SEZ in Tamil Nadu *Mahindra World City in Tamil Nadu * Motorola, DELL and Falcon * Apache SEZ (Adidas Group) in Hyderabad * Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park in Chandigarh * ETL infrastructure IT SEZ in Chennai * Hyderabad Gems Limited, Hyderabad. The list of builders includes private investors like Reliance, Wipro, Infosys and even public sector giants like O.N.G.C. The Reliance project of Maha Mumbai SEZ is going to be the largest project of SEZ in entire World by any private entrepreneur. Genpact has announced its plans to expand its presence in Hyderabad by setting up a SEZ across 50 acres in the city at Jawahar Nagar. Point Indu has inaugurated in Hyderabad, by setting up a SEZ across 150 acres near Shahabad close to Airport. CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE SEZ POLICY IN INDIA In India, the term "Development" whenever it is used by the Government and its agencies, the people in general and the agriculturalists in particular are frightened and they become panic because of its negative consequences faced by Special Economic Zones in India – An Introspection 17 them. In the name of establishing industries, SEZs, expansion of roads, creation of malls etc., the land of poor farmers is being grabbed and they are paid very low compensation. The people often feel that the "so called development process" is throwing them un-humanly on the roads for the purpose of creating and strengthening neo-economic rich class and the poorer sections are made further poor. This has become a regular feature since our Government adopted the liberalization process as a part of the globalization. The adoption of SEZ policy is no exception to this. Though as per the statistics provided by the union Department of Commerce, the cultivable land acquired for the purpose of establishment of SEZs is not even 0.1 % of the total agricultural land, but its effect on agriculture production is quite alarming. For instance, in Industrial Estate in Mumbai, a land of 400 mts was sold for Rs. 84 crores in open allocation. Near to that place, Ambani Group has put up proposals for 35000 acres of land for its SEZs. In Uttar Pradesh, -in Ghaziabad District, Anil Ambani was allotted 25000 acres of land for its SEZs. Similarly, in Punjab, Mukesh Ambani was allotted 25000 acres of land. The land mentioned above has been purchased from the farmers at Government rates resulting in heavy financial loss to the farmers who depend only on agriculture and its allied sectors for their livelihood. Hence, this is definitely an ant agriculturist policy. In 1977, the TATA's in collaboration with BURROW's, an American Company established Software Export Economic Zone. In the same way, in 1987-88, it established CPZ Company, a Jeweler and Ornaments manufacturing Unit in Mumbai. The exports have picked up and the companies could procure handsome amounts of foreign currency. In 2002-03, the exports of ornaments has gone up to 55% from this company alone – a remarkable achievement indeed. But this has a serious negative effect on thousands of Goldsmiths whose livelihood is totally dependent on only this profession. This cottage industry is in turmoil now. This is a clear case of establishment of SEZs which are working against the interest of common men in India. The exports in India through SEZs works out roughly around 5% only and the employment opportunities they created is around 0.32% only. The question of boost up in exports doesn’t get a convincing answer with the above statistics. The operators and unit holders in SEZs are given many types of tax exemptions as mentioned earlier, was opposed by the Union Finance Ministry. For instance, in coming four years the tax concessions given to SEZs amounts to around Rs. 1,00,000 crores. This is a huge financial loss. Interestingly, when the Finance Ministry suggested a ceiling of 150 SEZs in India (taking into consideration many aspects) it was not considered and the Ministry of Commerce demand overruled the Finance Ministry’s suggestion. Ignoring the suggestions of the Finance Ministry will have serious repercussions in future. The World Bank also cautioned the Indian Government in this regard and advised not to go for large number of SEZs within a short period which will have negative effect on the society as a whole in future. The creation of Special Courts to deal with the notified offences in SEZs has also a serious bearing on the functioning of the Independent Judicial System in India. The post of Development Commissioner is given enormous powers including addressing the labour problems. There is a little scope for establishment of labour unions in SEZs to protect the labour from the whims and fancies of SEZs' owners. In a recent comprehensive econometric study on the SEZ policies in China and India, Leong (2007) observes that the two phases of liberalization in both the countries, the second phase is statistically significant. One possible reason is that the scale of liberalization is greater in the second phase. Additionally, increasing of the number of SEZs has very negligible effect on the economic growth. Taken together, these results suggest that what contributes to a greater growth is a greater scale of liberalization, rather than increasing the number of SEZs. 18 B. Lal CONCLUSIONS When once we have wedded to the policy of Liberalization, honestly speaking, we cannot go back. When Mrs. Indira Gandhi was in power, the phrase "Socialism" swept the country and Nationalization of everything was the consequent result. Later, we have taken a "U" turn and we are trapped into the philosophy of Liberalization. The policy of establishment of SEZs is not totally anti-development, unless we prefer to take certain corrective measures honestly.      Definitely, there should be a ceiling on the establishment of SEZs. The decision of establishing a SEZ must be rational, logical and scientific. The products which have a real demand in the global market-SEZs to be confined to them only. The land which is not useful for agriculture shall only be allotted for SEZs. If there is a real need to take fertile agriculture land, proper compensation package, as per the market rate is to be paid and the land owner must be allotted an alternative land of his choice.  For foreigners, no special concessions shall be extended and they are to be administered in accordance with our legal rules and administrative regulations to avoid indifferent treatment between natives and foreigners. REFERENCES 1. In an exclusive interview with Economic Times on 28-1-2007. 2. Minutes of BJP National Executive Meeting, Lucknow, 22nd December, 2006. 3. Sakshi News Paper, 15th page, 12th October, 2008. 4. NANO TO Gujarat, 6th page, the Hindu 8th October, 2008. 5. The Govt. of India had in April, 2000 announced the Introduction of SEZ Policy in the Country. 6. Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. 7. SEZ act is passed by parliament on 23rd June, 2005. 8. Gujarat passed provincial SEZ Legislation Act in 2004. Email: jo.girija@yahoo.co.in. 9. Union Department of Commerce 2008, Annual Report 2007-2008, and earlier issues from 2002-03, New Delhi. 10. Website on SEZs of Union Department of Commerce: www.sezindia.gic.in/sez.asp. 11. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce 2007, 83rd Report on the Functioning of SEZ, New Delhi, pp 126-127. 12. Government of India, Department of Commerce 2011-12 Annual Report, New Delhi. 13. Andhra Pradesh Telugu News Paper’s Eenadu, Sakshi, Andhra Jyothi -2011 September to December, 2012.