‘Seven new SEZs in three years’

Tamil Nadu boasts of the highest number of operational Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India and the state will add seven new SEZs over the next three years. In an interview to TOI, Alex Paul Menon, zonal development commissioner - MEPZ Special Economic Zone covering Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Puducherry (TAP) region, speaks about attracting global investments, increasing the value of exports from SEZs in FY25, and creating an inclusive business ecosystem in the state. Excerpts:
 How did TN emerge as a hub of SEZs?
Tamil Nadu has the highest number of operational SEZs in India with a total of 49 as of March 18, 2025. It comprises a total of 1,234 units, of which 665 are factories. The rest 569 are in the IT sector. These facilities employ 6.3 lakh people. The state ecosystem offers a mix of sectoral diversity, infrastructure, policy, and personnel – making it a leading destination for SEZ-based investments. While Tamil Nadu hosts a wide range of industries including auto, textiles, electronics, IT, footwear, chemicals and pharma creating a magnet for multi-sectoral investment, proximity to major ports such as Chennai, Ennore, and Tuticorin, coupled with a robust road and rail network enables seamless logistics.
 What was TN's net export value from SEZs during FY25? Any new SEZs planned?
The state SEZs' net exports stood at 1,39,739 crore till Dec 2024 in FY 2024-25 and is expected to touch
1,86,319 crore in the full fiscal of 2024-25. In FY 2023-24, the total value of exports was to the tune of 1,77,990 crore. The MEPZ TAP region is expanding its SEZ network to align with Tamil Nadu's vision of a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Seven SEZs such as Venkatesh Coke and Power in Ponneri, Magnus multi sector (also in Ponneri), NDR multi sector in Ranipet, SIPCOT SEZs in Panapakkam, Ranipet, Ulundurpet and Bargur, besides L&T Infotech in Chennai will be established over the next three financial years. While the manufacturing SEZs would come up in a collective area of around 800 acres, the L&T Infotech in Manapakkam is developed in an area of 9,50,011 sq ft.
 How do you plan on attracting new investments?
We welcome investments from all over the world. We have a land bank of nearly 1,400 acres for industries and 1.9 million sq metres of built up area for the service sector in our SEZs across TN. This space can be utilised by industries and Global Capability Centers (GCCs). MEPZ SEZs are looking to align its exports to the global value chain (GVC) sectors. China exports 70% of the top 15 GVC categories; interestingly, TN also exports 70% of the top 15 GVC categories, mirroring China's approach. Electronics, automobile, and machinery are top export sectors for both China and Tamil Nadu. Approvals are provided in 5-9 days on application to set up units in our SEZs. Since April 2024, we have facilitated investments to the tune of 5,685 crore, creating 37,850 jobs across SEZs & Export Oriented Units (EOU) in Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Puducherry region. The focus is on attracting investments in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in Tamil Nadu and decongesting the Chennai metropolitan region.
 How are SEZs being made more inclusive and sustainable?
Tamil Nadu makes up 43% of India's women workforce in industries. We are pushing for 50% participation of women across sectors in our SEZs. We engage with companies to understand hiring policies, gaps in sourcing and skilling, and the means to address them. We also emphasize on employing members of the transgender community. Encouragingly, eight units have agreed to open up around 100 vacancies for them in desk and manufacturing jobs. We are also setting up a skill centre inside MEPZ Tambaram for which an MoU would be signed with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing. Members of the TG community can be trained here to enhance skills. On the sustainability front, we want all units inside MEPZ Tambaram to be powered 100% by renewable sources, aided by an internal mobility network of electric buggies, and we want to enhance green cover by planting about 7,000 trees here.