Exports from SEZs touch Rs 40,000 cr in 9 months Close on the heels of Goa government, buckling under political pressure, seeking scrapping of all SEZs in the state, the Export Promotion Council (EPC) and SEZ developers have underlined the need for "stability and continuity' of SEZ policy to multiply Indian exports. "In just two years of the notification of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Acts and Rules, exports from Indian SEZs have crossed $10 billion. This is a clear indication that we are in the right direction. There should be no structural change in the SEZ Policy,' Lalit B Singhal, director-general, Export Promotion Counicl for EoUs and SEZ units, told The Tribune here. "If the investors confidence has to be sustained and our exports are to be multiplied, then there should be stability and continuity of the (SEZ) policy,' he said. According to government data, the exports from SEZs have touched Rs 40,000 crore in the last nine months (April-December, 2007), showing a growth of almost 100 per cent in the corresponding period last year. The total incremental employment generated by the operational SEZs after February 2006 is 1,46,128. The total incremental investment during the same period is over Rs 70,416 crore out of which about Rs 67,347 crore has been invested in the newly notified SEZs. India today has 42 operational SEZs. The total number of SEZ proposals received is 439. Out of this, 197 have been notified and 138 have got in-principle approval. "With the huge growth potential in India, setting up of more SEZs will result in a surge in exports, investment and creation of employment opportunities. The exports from SEZs are likely to cross Rs 1,00,000 crore in 2008-09,' Singhal said. "In order to further utilise the full potential of SEZs there is a need to operationalise and establish the remaining SEZs. India needs to acknowledge that SEZs require stability and continuity of schemes to maintain and accelerate the growth rate,' said Ajay Nijhawan, vice-president of Reliance Haryana SEZ Ltd. Seeking consistent approach by both the Centre and state governments, Nijhawan wanted state governments to tap the potential of SEZs by really putting in motion