Mumbai, July 6 -- The Commerce Ministry has convened a stakeholders meeting on June 30 in New Delhi to discuss issues related to special economic zones, an official said. The gathering will focus on the harmonisation of export promotion schemes and wider SEZ reforms. The initiative follows concerns raised by industry and policymakers about the regulatory framework governing these enclaves.
Deliberations are expected to cover payments in Rs for SEZs to domestic tariff area services, arrangements for job work by units in these zones for the domestic tariff area without export linkage, measures for import substitution and reforms to free trade warehousing zones. The agenda will also include proposals aimed at further improving ease of doing business in SEZs.
The Government has constituted a 17-member committee to propose broader policy reforms. The panel is undertaking a background study focused on the harmonisation of existing export promotion schemes, including special economic zones, export-oriented units (EoUs), Manufacturing and Other Operations in Warehouse and Registration (MOOWR), Advance Authorisation (AA), export promotion for capital goods (EPCG) and Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA).
The committee is to submit a concept paper recommending a roadmap for a comprehensive SEZ two point zero policy. Officials indicated the review is timely because the SEZ law was framed in 2005 when Indian trade policy and global dynamics were markedly different. The legal treatment of these zones as foreign territories for customs, with limits on duty-free domestic sales, remains a core issue.
Data show total exports from these zones dipped to United States dollar (USD) 133.45 bn in 2025-26 from USD 172.07 bn in 2024-25. There are 276 operational special economic zones with 6,695 units in the country. Stakeholders will meet to align rules and streamline procedures ahead of the committee's policy recommendations.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.