The government is considering several measures such as a flexible framework for sale of products manufactured in special economic zones (SEZs) in the domestic market, easy de-notification norms, and streamlining approval processes for units, an official said.
The aim is to help revive SEZs and facilitate business transactions between SEZ and domestic tariff area (DTA) or the domestic market. SEZs are enclosures which are treated as foreign territories for trade and customs duties, with restrictions on duty-free sales outside these zones in the domestic market.
To seek views of different ministries on these measures, the commerce ministry has circulated a note on a draft SEZ (special economic zone) amendment bill 2023.
The inter-ministerial consultation is going at a fast pace and the bill is likely to be introduced in the forthcoming Winter session of Parliament which will commence on December 4 and continue till December 22.
This amendment bill will be introduced in place of the proposed Development of Enterprise and Service Hubs (DESH) bill, the official, who did not wish to be named, said.