ECONOMY
17-member panel formed to assess SEZs and suggest larger reforms in SEZ policy
- IBJ Bureau
- Mar 09, 2026
The government has set up a 17-member committee to suggest larger reforms in the policy for special economic zones SEZs, an official has said.
The committee is expected to submit a concept paper or roadmap or suggestions or amendments within six months, along with its recommendations for broad-based and comprehensive reforms to formulate an SEZ 2.0 policy.
It will undertake a background study, focused on the harmonisation of various prevalent export promotion schemes, including SEZs, export-oriented units (EoUs), MOOWR (manufacturing and other operations in warehouse), advance authorisation, EPCG (export promotion for capital goods), and duty-free import authorisation (DFIA).
The committee’s composition includes representatives from Commerce Department, Customs Department, NITI Aayog, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Directorate General of Export Promotion, Export Promotion Ccouncil for SEZs, two development commissioners and Department of Economic Affairs.
The terms of reference include examining the existing SEZ Act, 2005, with a view to assessing their effectiveness in the current global trade, investment environment and macroeconomic landscape and harmonisation with other export promotion schemes so that policy distortion, if any, may be addressed.
It will evaluate the impact of recent and proposed reforms in SEZ policy, including measures relating to domestic tariff area (DTA) sales, fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, compliance requirements and operational flexibilities, exports, investment, employment and ease of doing business.
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