Commerce ministry has convened a meeting of stakeholders on June 30 to discuss issues related to special economic zones (SEZs), including reforms aimed at harmonising export promotion schemes and easing business operations in the enclaves.The meeting will focus on issues related to the harmonisation of export promotion schemes and SEZ reforms, an official told news agency PTI.The issues expected to figure in the deliberations include INR payment for SEZs to domestic tariff area (DTA) services; job work by SEZ units for DTA without linkage to exports; import substitution; reforms in free trade warehousing zones; and measures to further promote ease of doing business in these enclaves.The government has constituted a 17-member committee to recommend broader reforms to the SEZ policy.It is also undertaking a background study on harmonising various export promotion schemes, including SEZs, export-oriented units (EOUs), Manufacturing and Other Operations in Warehouse (MOOWR), Advance Authorisation (AA), Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG), and Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA).The committee will submit a concept paper recommending a roadmap for broad-based and comprehensive reforms under a proposed SEZ 2.0 policy.The move assumes significance as the SEZ law was enacted in 2005 under a different trade policy environment, while global trade conditions have since undergone major changes.SEZs are treated as foreign territories for laws relating to customs, including trade and import duties, with restrictions on duty-free domestic sales.Exports from these zones declined to $133.45 billion in 2025-26 from $172.07 billion in 2024-25. India currently has 276 operational SEZs housing 6,695 units.
