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It is a trade capacity development tool, with a goal to promote rapid economic growth by using tax and business incentives to attract foreign investment and technology. By offering privileged terms, Special Economic Zones attract investment and foreign exchange, spur employment and boost the development of improved technologies and infrastructure.

In India, Special Economic Zones are being established in an attempt to deal with infrastructural deficiencies, procedural complexities, bureaucratic hassles and barriers raised by monetary, trade, fiscal, taxation, tariff and labour policies. Since country-wide development of the infrastructure is expensive and implementation of structural reforms would require time, ( Special Economic Zones/Export Processing Zones) are being established as industrial enclaves for expediting the process of industrialization.

One of the earliest and most famous Special Economic Zone was founded by the government of the People’s Republic of China under Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s.

Government of India in April 2000 announced the introduction of Special Economic Zones policy in the country. As of 2007, more than 500 Special Economic Zones have been proposed, 220 of which have already been created. This has raised the concern of the World Bank, which questions the sustainability of such a large number of Special Economic Zones.

Tracing Indian economic reforms
In India several attempts have been made to liberalize the system of economic management. In 1980s, the Indian Government focused on reorganizing low-efficient state-run enterprises and partial disinvestment, relaxing the control on private enterprises and foreign capital, introducing competitive mechanisms, reducing protection for domestic industries, promoting and importing advanced technological equipment from abroad etc.

In 1991, the reformed trade and industrial policy eliminated licensing requirements for private domestic and foreign investment in certain industries and relaxed the restrictions under the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act on expansion, diversification, mergers and acquisitions by large firms and industrial houses. Special Economic Zones came in pursuance of this export led growth strategy.

Special Economic Zones were announced by the Government of India in April 2000 as a part of the Export-Import policy of India. The government realized the need to enhance foreign investment, promote exports from the country and at the same time provide a level playing to the domestic enterprises, while ensuring manufacturers to be competitive globally.

The Special Economic Zones as announced by the Government of India in 2000 were deemed to be foreign territory for the purposes of trade operations, duties and tariffs. These zones were to provide an internationally competitive and hassle free environment for exports. Units were allowed be set up in Special Economic Zone for manufacture of goods and rendering of services. All import/export operations of the Special Economic Zone units were on self-certification basis. Anything could be imported duty free but sales in the Domestic Tariff Area by Special Economic Zone units were subject to payment of full Custom Duty and as per import policy in force. Further Offshore banking units were being allowed to be set up in the Special Economic Zones. The policy provided for setting up of Special Economic Zones in the public, private, joint sector or by State Governments.

On 31st August 2004 the Department of Commerce announced the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009 to create an appropriate institutional framework and policy environment for facilitation and growth of external trade. The basic objective of this policy was to double India’s share of global merchandise trade by 2009 and make exports an effective instrument of economic growth and employment generation. The Special Economic Zone Act, 2005 and the Special Economic Zone Rules, 2006 were introduced under this policy, to regulate and promote the development of these industrial enclaves.

The Act designated the Special Economic Zones a duty free enclave to be treated as foreign territory only for trade operations and duties and tariffs. Under the Act, no license is required for import and no routine examination is to be conducted by the custom authorities of the export/import cargo. To aid backward and forward integration of the economy, the Act provides exemptions to Special Economic Zone units and Special Economic Zone developers from all indirect taxes, including basic customs duty, countervailing duty, education cess, and direct taxes while at the same time domestic sales are subject to full customs duty and import policy in force. The Act provided the freedom to subcontract. It also permitted manufacturing, trading and service activities in the Special Economic Zones.

India and China : Whether on a Level Platform
Success stories of large and small developing countries can be explained by the growth of world trade and opening up of these economies with market based deregulation. But from any in-depth scrutiny one finds that the reform package under the broad heading of “liberalization” is very different from country to country. There is no standard recipe of a “reform package”. A lot of factors influence the performance of Special Economic Zones in a country e.g. economic history, location, industries, state policy etc. Since India has adopted the idea of the special economic zones from China it becomes pertinent to study the history of economic development in India and China.

China’s success can be ascribed largely because of its effective population control. In the pre-reform days, both in China and India top priority was given to equity, removing poverty and increasing the social aspects of standards of living. This, however, was attempted in China under a total state-controlled economy and in India with the public sector playing a dominant role along with the market forces. Both the economies adopted a strategy of import substitution and heavy industry growth. China over time, realized that maintaining high standards of living becomes difficult unless efficiency in the use of resources is increased. Its attempt to maintain equity through forced saving and administered directives resulted in social unrest, which came to a breaking point after the controversial Cultural Revolution. The key objective of present reform in China is to bring incentives back in the economy by increasing the role of the market with minimum changes in their political institutions. This is defined in China as an experiment in a socialistic market economy.

In India, heavy import substitution lead to increased inefficiency in production and generation of surplus for maintaining the tempo of equity measures as a result social development became impossible. This led to heavy borrowing, culminating in a balance of payments crisis. To meet the crisis, this new economic policy in India was initiated.

China’s success in attracting foreign direct investment and becoming one of the top exporting countries of the world hinged on the careful implementation of its Special Economic Zone policy. Size, location, flexible labour laws and stable policies were the factors primarily responsible for making Chinese Special Economic Zones attractive to foreign investors. In India, the fiscal concessions being offered to developers and units are the primary driving force.

Chinese government started building Special Economic Zones way back in 1979. The idea behind the Special Economic Zones was to experiment with liberal policies in certain ear-marked regions while insulating the rest of the economy from their influence. The government identified huge tracts of land, near the coastal region, and started building mega cities with all required infrastructure. Stringent labour laws applicable in China were relaxed in these regions and foreign investment was encouraged by offering concessions and promising of stability.

In 1980 four Special Economic Zones namely, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen were opened up. In 1984, fourteen coastal cities were opened up as a further step. In 1985, three delta areas along the Yangtze River and Pearl River and in the southern part of Fujian province as well as several other places were opened up. In the following years, Hainan Island, Pudong New Area in Shanghai, five big cities along the Yangtze River, eighteen provincial capitals and a part of inland and border cities were opened up. These zones were created initially as experimental stations to adjust and watch their operations vis-à-vis open market interactions.

Though India had a head-start in the direction by building its first export processing zone in 1969 with certain minimum infrastructure and fiscal sops, it could not muster enough political will to build full-fledged Special Economic Zones with foreign territory status in the matters of international trade till the turn of the century. As opposed to five mega Special Economic Zones built by the Chinese government (the largest being Shenzhen built over 49,500 hectares), India opened its doors to private players and allowed sector-specific Special Economic Zones to develop on just 10 hectares of land. As a result, more than 500 Special Economic Zones have been proposed, 220 of which have already been created. The economies of scale, which seems to have worked so well in China by reducing production costs, may not have the same effect in the Indian Special Economic Zone s.

In China, the government chose the location for Special Economic Zone s with a lot of thought with all five located near the coastal region. This made it easier for the Special Economic Zone units to export their products and import inputs. In India, Special Economic Zones are being built all over the country, wherever land can be acquired by the developers. This has also led to allegations of land-grabbing and conversion of productive agricultural land by developers. As a result, Centre has made it mandatory that all proposals should have a certificate from the state governments notifying that the land being used is non-agricultural for at least 90%.

Flexibility in labour laws, which played an important role in attracting foreign investors, is absent in the Indian Special Economic Zones. This is one of the prices India has to pay for the advantages of a federal democratic government. India has, however, tried to make up for all the disadvantages by offering attractive fiscal sops. Tax holidays for Special Economic Zones in India are longer and steeper than those given by China. This had given rise to some dissent from the finance ministry which had complained that the fiscal loss would be immense. In fact the scheme has generated a difference of opinion between the Finance and Commerce Ministries. While the former is voicing its concerns about possible revenue loss from the tax privileges for the Special Economic Zones, the latter is stoutly defending the policy with statistics suggesting minimal losses and highlighting eventual gains in terms of employment and revenues

Reserve Bank of India has also expressed its concerns about the revenue losses and the uneven pattern of development. Reserve Bank of India insisted on factoring the revenue implications of the taxation benefits. The revenue loss for the Government in providing incentives may be justified only if the Special Economic Zone units ensure forward and backward linkages with the domestic economy. Also, as resources are being diverted from the less developed, growth will not be uniform.

One of the most basic difference between the Special Economic Zone model adopted in China and India is that the Chinese Special Economic Zone initiative is government driven, whereas Indian Special Economic Zones are driven by private sector . In China , the State acquires the land and develops the required infrastructure, while private enterprises are invited to set up units. Under such a system, land continues to be under the ownership of the State. In India, however, private entities are being involved in developing the Special Economic Zone infrastructure. As a result, Land is being acquired by the State and handed over to private developers.

Current Controversy
The Economic Survey of 2006-07 highlighted the fact that Special Economic Zone s are testing grounds for the implementation of liberal market economy principles. At the same the survey emphasized on some apprehensions against the Special Economic Zones:
Generation of little new activity as there may be relocation of industries to take advantage of tax concessions,
Revenue loss,
Large-scale land acquisition by the developers, may lead to displacement of farmers with meager compensation,
Acquisition of prime agricultural land, having serious implications for food security,
Misuse of land by the developers for real estate and
Uneven growth aggravating regional inequalities.

The Survey also mentioned that many of these apprehensions, however, could be addressed through appropriate policies and safeguards.
A major controversy surrounding the implementation of the Special Economic Zone scheme has been the ruthless manner adopted for acquiring land. News reports highlighted protests across the country against acquisition of lands for the purpose of establishing Special Economic Zones. The “SEZ No More” campaign gained momentum after the bloody chapter in Nandigram.

Since, developing Special Economic Zones involves massive displacement of farmers, it is essential that a systematic approach should be followed for ensuring balance of interests. Consequently, state governments have been advised that in land acquisition for Special Economic Zones, first priority should be for acquisition of waste and barren land and if necessary single crop agricultural land. If perforce a portion of double-cropped agricultural land has to be acquired to meet the minimum area requirements, especially for multi-product Special Economic Zone, the same should not exceed 10 % of the total land required for the Special Economic Zone

The government has also announced the new National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement 2007. This policy would provide land-for-land compensation for acquisition of land for development purposes, including Special Economic Zones, and employment to at least one person from each affected family. A National Rehabilitation Commission would be set up by the Central Government, which would be duly empowered to exercise independent oversight over the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected families. Further, wage employment would be provided to the willing affected persons in the construction work in the project. The policy also ensures housing benefits including houses to the landless affected families in both rural and urban areas.

Adequate provisions have been made for financial support to the affected families for construction of cattle sheds, shops, working sheds; transportation costs, temporary and transitional accommodation, comprehensive infrastructural facilities and amenities in the resettlement area including education, health care, drinking water, roads, electricity, sanitation, religious activities, cattle grazing, and other community resources.

The benefits expressed in monetary terms have been linked to the Consumer Price Index, and the same shall also be revised suitably at appropriate intervals. Special provision has been made for providing life-time monthly pension to the vulnerable persons, such as the disabled, destitute, orphans, widows, unmarried girls, abandoned women, or persons above 50 years of age (who are not provided or cannot immediately be provided with alternative livelihood).

A strong grievance redressal mechanism has been prescribed, which includes standing R&R Committees at the district level, R&R Committees at the project level, and an Ombudsman duly empowered in this regard. The R&R Committees shall have representatives from the affected families including women, voluntary organizations, Panchayats, local elected representatives, etc. Provision has also been made for post-implementation social audits of the rehabilitation and resettlement schemes and plans.

For effective monitoring of the progress of implementation of R&R plans, provisions have been made for a National Monitoring Committee, a National Monitoring Cell, mandatory information sharing by the States and Union Territories with the National Monitoring Cell, and Oversight Committees in the Ministries/Departments concerned for each major project.

For ensuring transparency, provision has been made for mandatory dissemination of information on displacement, rehabilitation and resettlement, with names of the affected persons and details of the rehabilitation packages. Such information shall be placed in the public domain on the Internet as well as shared with the concerned Gram Sabhas and Panchayats by the project authorities. This policy aims at striking a balance between the need for land for development purposes and protecting the interests of land owners and other displaced people.

Conclusion
A study conducted by Aradhna Aggarwal on the Impact of Special Economic Zones on Employment, Poverty and Human Development indicated, that Employment generation, both direct and indirect, has thus far been the most important channel, through which Special Economic Zones have impacted on human development and poverty reduction in India. However, the role of Special Economic Zone s in human capital formation and as an engine for promoting new knowledge, technologies and innovations through technology transfers and technology creation appears to be relatively limited. With new generation Special Economic Zones emerging, the scope of human capital formation and technology upgrading effects will widen. It is therefore important for the government to play a pro active role in strengthening these effects.

For the contribution of Special Economic Zones to various aspects of human development to be realized, it is important to forge linkages between the domestic economy and Special Economic Zones. Systematic efforts need to be made to help zone units forge links with the outside units. Also, the effects of Special Economic Zones are contingent upon the success of these zones in attracting investment, in particular, Foreign Direct Investment. A comprehensive policy framework is required to attain this. The government has to ensure that strategies are developed in a timely manner to strengthen the opportunities that are likely to emerge, protect interests of the Special Economic Zones workers, and forge linkages between Special Economic Zones and the domestic economy. Such a regulated and monitored approach is the only means of attaining the actual potential of these Special Economic Zones.

Real estate is the one of the sector which has witnessed a rapid growth post independence. Every year there are new changes are taking place in real estate sector. There are immense opportunities for business in real estate sector. This sector has opened a good career opportunity and also offers good growth opportunity as well.  Buying a property in India is a good option as the investor get a good rent for it. As far as the developers are concerned, there is long list in it.  But there are big name in real estate sectores like DLF, Unitech, Omaxe, BPTP, Parasvnath, Paramount, Oberoi, DB Realty etc.

There are so many cities emerging in real estate property market like Noida, Gurgaon, Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Chennai etc. The other factors which is also very important in developing real estate in India is that people here are good in spoken English. Also there is no limit of talent in India. Coperative assistance from the govt. has also witnessed a steady growth in real estate market. Foreign investment give a boost to real estate market to grow at 40-45% every year.

DLF – The biggest real estate developer in Indian market. DLF develop residential colony such as Shivaji Park, Rajouri Garden, Krishna Nagar,  South Extension, Greater kailash and Hauz Khas. Company is headed by billionare Kushal  Pal Singh. DLF is a multi billion company with annual turnover around Rs. 3000 crore. DLF is the official sponser of IPL League in India.

 Unitech – Unitech developers is the leading developers in India. This group is worth around Rs. 1600 crore. It is highly involved in residential and commercial development.  Company projects includes mini cites, housing socities, integrated township and residential high rises.

Eldeco – Eldeco is around 35 year old company which is indulge in building residential socities, office space, township, shopping mall etc. Builder is specially working in Haryana, Up, Punjab regions. Its projects are around 100 to 200 acre.

Omaxe – Omaxe is a known developer is not only involved in residential and commercial complex but in educational institution and hospital as well. Projects of Omaxe is not limited to Noida only. It has project in Haryana, UP, Uttranchal, Rajsthan, Punjab, HP, MP etc.

There are endless numbers of developer and it is difficult to count all. Except of all these there are developers like Jaypee group, Supertech,      Triveni among the top list builders.

Article by Addi

The turmoil from the wall street crash is going to be a high pitched one for the Indian real estate market. All the demons are now shaking there hands to create barricades in front of the never ending parade of the India inc. And, the realty is going to be the worst sufferers. The reasons are simple. The market demand and supply forces are now at their lowest ebb. No outsourcing company is now planning to expand in India. The IT giant has cut short its Rs. 5 lakhs sq Ft expansion plan to 3 lakhs. There is an overall 30% deduction in the demand for official space. The residential space has already faced a hibernating demand graph. The rise in home loan rate is forcing many prospective buyers to stop their purchase.

In the supply side of the real estate story, there is a gloomy tale to be told. The major chunk of the inflow of money into the Indian real estate market comes through FDI and private equity. The RBI has given strict instruction to the Banks in the Indian banking system not to invest in real estate. In such a scenario, the FDI and private equity hole to be pivotal for the growth of Indian real estate market. But the FDI in real estate segment is now destined to decline. The real estate prices almost crashed in the United States and other developed markets. So precarious is the condition of the real estate investors active in those economies are that they are filing for bankruptcy. So, where is India in this perplexed situation which has a nascent and yet to be organised real estate market!

Both Lehman and Merrill Lynch have a significant stake in a number of Indian companies. As they are facing a financial catastrophe even remaining afloat, they are offloading their stakes in the Indian companies. This has affected share prices of those companies and also caused a real estate slow down. The FIIs in Indian real estate have pulled out a net $ 8.01 billion since the beginning of 2008, with over $ 900 million of this outflow having taken place in the first half of September alone. According to the available data, Merrill has invested in more than 200 companies, out of which in 177 companies, it owns more than one per cent of the paid up capital as on June 30, 2008. The Lehman Brothers has also invested in more than two dozens companies and in some real estate projects.

The US major Lehman Brothers has alone invested 700 crores in the Indian real estate market. keeping the current situation of Lehman, anybody can predict the future of that investment. In such a case, the ball is now at the Government of India’s court. The Government needs to cut down the home loan interest rate to boost up the residential property market at least.

As has been observed that real estate prices and stock markets are highly correlated. The reason being that in a rising stock-market, real estate becomes a hot spot avenue for high net worth individuals to park surplus funds. This leads to an escalation in immovable property prices. In a falling market, however, they tend to cover losses in one market by selling off their investment in the realty segment. Any decrease in investor wealth means that the market gains and this is converted to cash for re-investment in property, have been sucked out of the system, thereby reducing the total demand in the realty market. This leads to a continuously accelerating change in the economy of price correction feeding from one asset class to the other. And there are fears that Indian real estate trend may follow the stock market.

This is the right time to invest money in the Indian real estate sector. If you are interested in earning lots of money, then you should hurry up to make plans for putting your money in this booming sector. Do not worry if you do not know the procedure for investing money in this industry. If you would like to know the actual face of the current real estate industry then get in touch with various with real estate agents in India. These agents would guide you on how to invest money in various real estate sectors in India. There are various real estate investment programs which are available with most of the investment banks. These investments banks take your money and invest them in the new projects of the real estate companies operating in India. Walking with these banks might help those enthusiastic people who are already familiar with the terms and terminologies of real estate investment programs. The rest of the individuals who are not aware of this industry should seek the necessary guidance from the real estate agents in India. Apart from investment advice, these agents also guide people for buying and selling of properties. Most of the real estate agents in India advice people to buy a home at the cheapest price and after a few years when the value of this property is very high then they can sell it at higher price. Some of the prominent names of the real estate builders in India are DLF, Unitech, Ansal API Raheja Developers and OMAXE. Various financial surveys have shown that these giants have made their investors happy after giving them lucrative returns. These companies are spreading to various smaller Indian cities where they are planning excellent housing projects. They are now highlighting their different types of investment programs in the financial market. You can contact their respective real estate agents for investing your money. These and other reputed real estate companies have got their own websites. These are also the appropriate tools to get proper knowledge about their undergoing projects as well as new projects. These sites also let you know about their various investment programs. People who are interested to see their money grow should hurry up their way to contact the available real estate representatives in India. Before investing your money through agents, you should verify the authenticity of these agents. You should get in touch with those real estate agents who have been popularly known for their work. The agents who promise maximum benefits to you through their excellent investment programs are the best for you. On contacting an agent you should tell him what is your financial capability to go ahead with the investment programs. One needs to remember that the more he invest in this sector, the more he will earn. Hence, real estate in India is running the bulls’ race in the contemporary growing economy.