The Export Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZs in association with World Trade Center Bangalore organized an interactive session on Export Oriented Units (EOUs) and SEZs on 21st August, 2015 at WTC Bangalore. This event had over 80 participants representing the different EOUs and SEZ Units from the state of Karnataka & Kerala. The obejective of the event was to discuss all issues/suggestions relating to EOU/SEZ Schemes

The speakers included Dr. Safeena A.N., IAS - Development Commissioner, Cochin Special Economic Zone (CSEZ), Mr. P.C. Nambiar – Chairman, Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZ (EPCES), Mr. Manje Gowda - Chairman, Regional Governing Council, EPCES, Mr. Balaram Menon, President, WTC Bangalore & Director, World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), New York and Dr. Bose K Nair, Vice President, World Trade Center Bangalore.

Mr. P.C.Nambiar said that SEZ scheme is now matured as currently out of 416 formally approved SEZ,  330 are notified and out of which 202 have units exporting goods and services. This sector has attracted additional investment of Rs. 3,34,759 Crores, created direct employment for 13,07,612 persons,  since 2006 and earned foreign exchange to the tune of Rs. 4,63,770 Crores during the last financial year by exporting goods and services.  He further clarified that the land lying vacant in the approved/notified SEZs is predominantly of private entrepreneurs, bought on outright sale basis and no government acquisition is involved in them. If the investor developers find them commercially non-viable,   they have all the right to withdraw their proposal and deal with the land the way they deem fit.  

Most of the northern and north eastern states do not have SEZ presence, mainly because of inadequate resources. He felt that those states could consider establishing Service SEZs to offer greater employment opportunities to the youth. He also urged the State governments to formulate conducive SEZ policies to attract more investment and to operationalize more and more SEZs.  

He also asked all developers and units to become members of the  World Free Zone Organization to take benefit of global networking and their services as available at http://www.worldfzo.org/Pages/Home.aspx