Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a region that has economic laws that are more moderate than a country’s conjugal economic laws.
The category ‘SEZ’ covers a broad range of more specific zone types, FTZ (Free trade zone), EPZ (Export processing zone), FZ (Free Zone), IE (Industrial estates), Free Ports, Urban Enterprise Zones and others.
SEZ: – Special Economic Zone is an area in which business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country. SEZs are located within a country’s national borders, and their aims include: increased trade, increased investment, job creation and effective administration.
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FTZ: – A free-trade zone (FTZ) is a class of special economic zone. It is a geographic area where goods may be landed, stored, handled, manufactured, or reconfigured, and re-exported under specific customs regulation and generally not subject to customs duty. Free trade zones are generally organized around major seaports, international airports, and national frontiers areas with many geographic advantages for trade.
EPZ: – An export-processing zone (EPZ) is a specific type of FTZ, set up generally in developing countries by their governments to promote industrial and commercial exports. According to the World Bank, “an export processing zone is an industrial estate, usually a fenced-in area of 10 to 300 hectares, which specializes in manufacturing for export.
FZ: – free zones (FZ) are a class of special economic zone (SEZ) designated by the trade and commerce administrations of various countries. The term is used to designate areas in which companies are taxed very lightly or not at all to encourage economic activity
UEZ: – An urban enterprise zone is an area in which policies to encourage economic growth and development are implemented. Urban enterprise zone policies generally offer tax concessions, infrastructure incentives, and reduced regulations to attract investments and private companies into the zones.
Reason to use SEZ:-The main reason for being used SEZ is to increase foreign direct investment typically an international business or a MNC. India was one of the first in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Asia’s first EPZ set up in Kandla in 1965. With a view to overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable monetary government and with a view to attract huge foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000.Today we have 3000 SEZs approximately functioning in 120 countries whose budget is more than US $ 600 in export.SEZs attract investment and foreign exchanges generate employment opportunity and also gives a boost to technological development and infrastructure.
History: – In India, the first EPZ was established at Kandla, Gujarat in 1965 with the provision of better infrastructure and tax holidays. The second one was established in Santa Cruz in Maharashtra in 1973. In the decade of 80s, five more EPZs were established in different parts of the country. It is interesting to note that though the country has started pursuing vigorous economic reforms in early 1990s, in that decade no new EPZs were established. However, a number of provisions (either new or revised) have been made for better functioning of these establishments. The Central Government introduced the SEZ Policy in the year 2000. Private sector was allowed to play a more active role in developing SEZs with or without government participation. During 2000-05, approvals were given to set up 26 SEZs. Interestingly, most of these SEZs were in the nature of joint ventures between a State Government and a private party. Earlier, the policy relating to the Special Economic Zones was contained in the Foreign Trade Policy and incentives and other facilities offered to the Special Economic Zone developer/co-developer and units were implemented through various notifications and circulars issued by the concerned Ministries/Department. However, in order to give a long term and stable policy framework with minimum regulatory regime and to provide expeditious and single window clearance mechanism, a Central Act for Special Economic Zones was found to be necessary. Accordingly, the SEZ Act, 2005 was enacted, which was given effect to from 10-2-2006. Thus, activities of SEZs and its units are governed by the provisions of the SEZ Act, 2005 and the rules issued there under viz. SEZ Rules, 2006. SEZ Scheme is administered by the Department of Commerce under Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Benefits to the economy: Theoretical approaches
- Orthodox Approach (Neo classical):
- to offset anti-export bias in a heavily regulated economy :
- always welfare reducing
- Cost benefit approach (accounting method) :Warr, 1989
- SEZs have both costs and benefits.
- Their contribution depends on whether measurable costs are less than measurable benefits.
- Recognized indirect benefits in terms of income generated
- These arise from backward and forward linkages but argued that they are limited.
- Heterodox approach (Johansson 1994)
- Underscored the importance of indirect effects through spillovers and demonstrations.
- Overall effects are difficult to measure
- Aggarwal (2007) :
- Spillovers also take place when Zones’ entrepreneurs interact with the rest of the economy entrepreneurs in various forums.
- Zone entrepreneurs set up production units outside the zones.
Actual Benifits of SEZ :-
- EXP : foreign exchange earnings
- DTA : Domestic Tariff area Sales
- TAXGAIN: Taxes collected on DTA sales
- EXP+DTA+TAXGAIN: Total benefits
- IMP : imports
- ELEC : the cost of public utilities (electricity, power and fuel)
- RM : the cost of locally purchased inputs
- TAX Direct and indirect ( only for SEZ developers) tax foregone
- ADMIN: Administrative costs
- IMP+ELEC+RM+TAX+ADMIN : total cost
Disadvantages:-
- Commitments for Export, FDI, Manufacturing
- Impact on agricultural land
- Compensation & Rehabilitation of PAP/Farmers
- Tax Heavens – Revenue losses of State & Center
- Abuse of large scale business/services to DTA
- Level playing field for other industries in DTA
Conclusion: –
- SEZs can act as catalyst to industrial growth provided they are implemented effectively.
- Effective implementation of a policy that aims at giving shock to the economy requires mobilization of public People often approach such an issue initially with strong, emotionally laden feelings and opinions. It must be shaped and formed so that important decisions are taken without creating instability in the society.
- Four things are important :
- The government must slow down the process of giving approvals. This is important not only for social or political reasons but also due to economic realities.
- Legal institutions related to land acquisition (including land acquisition modalities, compensation package and rehabilitation package) must be addressed.
- Introduce a performance based exit policy for SEZ developers
- Restore STPI (Software technology perks of India) and EOUs(Export oriented units) benefits
- Finally, the policy should be treated as transitory.
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