SEZs Beyond Cities

Expanding Special Economic Zones into remote India can boost exports, jobs and infrastructure while reducing migration and ensuring more balanced regional growth

- RAAVI BIRBAL

‘ome legal reforms, if implemented properly, can improve the country’s economy drastically and at a much faster pace.

One such reform has been the introduction and gradual liberalisation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). These zones were created to solve several longstanding challenges faced by industries, such as complicated procedures, unstable and high tax rules, and delays that discouraged foreign investment.

An important next step is to expand SEZs into remote and underdeveloped parts of India. Large parts of rural and semi-rural India still remain untouched by industrial growth. Setting up SEZs in remote districts can bring many benefits, of course, without hampering the environment in any manner. It can attract new industries to places with limited economic activity, create much-needed jobs, improve basic infrastructure like roads, electricity and internet, reduce migration to big cities, support balanced regional development, and encourage local entrepreneurship and skill development.

India is currently focused on strengthening its technological capabilities, increasing manufacturing capacity, and building stronger partnerships with global companies.