Bucking the trend,exports from special economic zones (SEZs) increased by over 25 per cent in three months ended June 2009,even as overseas sale of Indian goods remained in the negative territory during the period. Briefing the Board of Approval (BoA) on SEZs on Tuesday,commerce secretary Rahul Khullar said between April and June this year,exports from 98 functional SEZs stood at Rs 39,410 crore. This is substantial,but could have been better, Khullar told reporters. The BoA on Tuesday gave its in-principal approval to Indias largest solar energy-based SEZ. The 101-hectare zone will be built by Lanco Solar Pvt Ltd in Ramdaspur near Cuttak,Orissa. The developer is yet to complete land acquisition for the zone and so was given in-principle approval. There are four other solar energy-based SEZs,which had been cleared by the BoA in its earlier meetings. The board formally approved two other SEZs which have completed land acquisition formalities. They are Brooke Bond Real Estates Pvt Ltd,Bangalore,and Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd in Shimoga,Karnataka. FE Maytas can withdraw SEZ New Delhi: The government on Tuesday allowed Maytas Ventures,promoted by the kin of disgraced B Ramalinga Raju,to surrender its biotech SEZ and approved three new proposals,including that of Brooke Bond Real Estates IT/ITES tax-free enclave in Karnataka. The Board of Approval (BoA) headed by Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar permitted the Hyderabad-based Maytas Ventures to withdraw its SEZ provided the company refunds the Rs 31 lakh service tax exemption. PTI
