January 21, 2002
'16'
STATES URGED TO FORMULATE POLICY PACKAGES FOR SEZs
LAUNCHING OF GEM & JEWELLERY SEZ IN KOLKATA
Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, has urged the State Governments to quickly formulate and announce their own policy packages for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), particularly in view of the encouraging response being received from the State Governments and the private promoters for the setting up of SEZs in the country. In his address on the occasion of ceremonial commencement of work of "Manikanchan – Gem & Jewellery SEZ" at Salt Lake in Kolkata, Shri Maran said that Maharashtra has already taken the lead in formulating the policy package for SEZ and requested the Government of West Bengal to follow suit immediately since corresponding State Government policy was essential for reaping the full benefits of SEZs. "State Governments need to announce their fiscal policies on SEZs and ensure that SEZ is free from Inspector Raj", he said. Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal; Shri Somnath Chatterjee, Chairman, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation; Shri S.N. Roy, Chief Secretary; and Shri Jawahar Sircar, Principal Secretary, Commerce & Industries Department, West Bengal were amongst others present at the function.
Shri Maran also said that the government had already given approvals for the setting up of SEZs in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in addition to West Bengal. The existing Export Processing Zones (EPZs) at Cochin, Santa Cruz, Kandla and Surat have also been converted into SEZs. "The SEZs are the laboratories for initiating and experimenting with progressive economic measures and reforms in all spheres, so that they may be followed by the entire State and the whole country later. I am hopeful that West Bengal being a pro-active and progressive State, would soon initiate and formulate a special fiscal policy for the SEZs and in particular an export policy in general for those items in which West Bengal has a comparative advantage. So far, only Uttar Pradesh has formulated an Export Policy for the years 1998-2002", he said.
The Minister further announced that the government had decided to make Siliguri and Jaipaiguri as part of the 10 Agri Export Zones (AEZs) in the country with a view to giving a boost to exports of pineapples in the Eastern region. This would be operationalised within a year. Describing West Bengal as a State which had everything going for it – abundance of skilled artisans, rich tradition of craftsmanship for handmade gold jewellery and excellent airport and an increasingly investor-friendly government, Shri Maran said that he was sure that SEZ at Salt Lake would become a model engine of growth not only for West Bengal but for the whole of India. "No degree of mechanisation can match the artistry of the Bengal artisans", Shri Maran said.
Shri Maran referred to the earlier Exim Policy announcement of creation of a corpus of fund by the Union Government to devolve to the States on the basis of their export performance and announced that the scheme is now a reality and actual fund flows to the State Government may begin from the next financial year. The Minister underlined the fact that there has been a paradigm shift in our trade policies and the government is pursuing an active strategy of export promotion through a competitive stimulus.
Gem & jewellery sector has been one of the foremost exchange earners for the country and accounted for about 17.6% of our total exports during 2000-2001. The State of West Bengal has contributed in exporting gold jewellery close to 5000 kg. In the last year valued at Rs.206 crore which is up by 50 times as against exports of 100 kg in 1990-91. The Gem & Jewellery Park being set up is another step in improving our market share.