MEPZ SEZ exports exceed Rs 2,300-cr mark in '06-07

ECONOMIC BUREAU
Posted online: Thursday, April 05, 2007 at 0013 hours IST




CHENNAI, APRIL 4 : Fiscal 2006-07 was a successful year for MEPZ
Special Economic Zone (MEPZ SEZ) when it comes to exports. The zone
during the year has done exports of about Rs 2,327.12 crore, which is
about 25.14% over the previous year performance of Rs 1,859.63 crore.
According to the latest figures available with the MEPZ SEZ, the zone
has performed well in almost all sectors except the garments and
textiles and the trading and service units industries. A significant
portion of exports has come from the engineering industry which has done
nearly Rs 680.57 crore working out to about 29.24% of the overall
exports. The industry performance has gone up by about 30% compared to
the previous year exports of Rs 523.59 crore. Electronics and software
industry has done exports of Rs 572.77 crore, only a meagre 7.5% over
the previous year performance of Rs 532.65 crore.

Chemical, plastic and allied industry has done really well during the
year. The units in the segment have done exports aggregating Rs 206.12
crore, registering a growth of 57.21% over the previous year exports of
Rs 131.11 crore. Leather and sports goods industry has also improved its
export performance by 23.86% to Rs 132.06 crore (Rs 106.62 crore). Food,
agriculture and forest products industry exports were higher at Rs 18.01
crore (Rs 7.44 crore), showing an impressive growth of over 142%.

The gems and jewellery units operating within zone have also done well
during the year. They have done exports of Rs 321.77 crore about 203.67%
over the previous year exports of Rs 105.96 crore. This assumes
significance as gems and jewellery units were earlier concentrated only
on the western India.

The textile and garments industry which used to be a major contributor
to the overall exports, was a poor performer during the year as exports
were down to Rs 349.64 crore (Rs 405.70 crore). Similarly exports from
the trading and service units industry declined to Rs 9.01 crore from Rs
14.53 crore in the previous year.

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