Clearance for Manipur SEZ in 3 months likely

Kolkata, Sept. 10 :  The proposed IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Manipur is likely to get Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s permission in the next two-three months.

Sanjeev Nandwani, an official with the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry who is in charge of SEZs located in the Eastern and North-Eastern region, confirmed this while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a seminar on the IT industry organised here by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in association with Electronics & Computer Software Export Promotion Council.

To be located at the State capital of Imphal, the SEZ will be set up by the Manipur Government. According to Nandwani, tier-II and III cities are poised to attract investments by building infrastructure. “There is a huge scope for bringing IT talent back home from abroad,” he said.

Six SEZs in West Bengal (including for manufacturing and IT services) have performed well till August this fiscal, compared with the corresponding period last year.

“SEZs in West Bengal recorded exports worth nearly Rs 15,000 crore in 2012-13, which is a little over 3 per cent higher than 2011-12,” Nandwani said.