Date:11/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/11/stories/2006071117840300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Parliamentary team visits Special Economic Zones

Staff Reporter

More needs to be done to increase exports: Murli Manohar Joshi

INSPECTION VISIT: The chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Murli Manohar Joshi at a garment export unit at the MEPZ Special Economic Zone, Tambaram on Monday.

TAMBARAM: The Special Economic Zones in and around Chennai were doing well and contributing to exports in a great measure, but more needs to be done, Murli Manohar Joshi, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, said on Monday.

In a brief chat with presspersons inside the premises of the Madras Export Processing Zone SEZ, Tambaram Sanatorium, Dr. Joshi said the committee comprising 11 MPs had visited the SEZs at Marai Malai Nagar and MEPZ and had taken note of the various industrial activities taking place here.

These zones had made significant contributions, Dr. Joshi said, but added, "more needs to be done to improve them and increase exports from here."

The delegation first visited the Special Economic Zone, Marai Malai Nagar, and had a look at the units functioning there before coming to MEPZ Tambaram.

They also went around the production lines of a couple of export units. The committee members held detailed discussions with Ministry of Commerce officials on issues relating to the development and growth of SEZs in Tamil Nadu.