NEW DELHI: Exports from the 36 operational Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Tamil Nadu grew 17.44 per cent to Rs. 82,717 crore in 2015-16 compared with Rs. 70,428 crore the previous year. Experts tracking SEZs in the State said that had the Nokia been operational, this figure could have been higher by 25 per cent.
Exports from the Nokia SEZ at Sriperumbudur skid down to Rs. 17,422 crore in 2012-13 and Rs. 13,955 crore in 2013-14 against Rs. 18,363 crore in 2011-12. In 2014, Microsoft acquired Nokia in a $7.5 billion deal but kept the Chennai plant aside due to a tax dispute. The same year, Nokia suspended operations at its plant. Post suspension, exports from this SEZ fell down drastically. In 2014-15, the export figure was Rs. 1,580 crore. The current year’s data shows that exports have dropped to Rs. 319 crore.
Of the 36 operational SEZs, 17 were IT/ITES zones, contributing the most to exports. It is learnt that ELCOT Sholinganallur accounted for exports of Rs. 16,536 crore in 2015-16 and TCS Siruseri Rs. 14,038 crore. Exports from the auto ancillary SEZs, which stood at Rs. 761 crore in 2011-12, have jumped to Rs. 1,720 in 2015-16. An auto analyst said that a majority of exports in the space was from the Mahindra Chengalpattu SEZ.
Exports from other SEZs in Tamil Nadu — including those in the electronic hardware, engineering, textiles and multi-products space — are also taking off slowly. Companies which had single-digit export figures two years ago, now record double-digit growth. When you look at a five year window, exports from these SEZs have increased by 34.48 per cent from Rs 61,509 crore in 2011-12.
