Reliance SEZs will have competitive edge: Anand Jain
India Infoline News Service / Mumbai Jan 15, 2007 14:53
Reliance is determined to set up its Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and their key infrastructures within a shortest possible time, asserts Anand Jain, who is spearheading Reliance’s initiative in setting up Navi Mumbai SEZ and the adjoining Mumbai SEZ projects.
Making a presentation on the twin projects - Navi Mumbai SEZ and the adjoining Mumbai SEZ - at a brainstorming session organized by IMC's Economic Research & Training Foundation (ERTF), Anand Jain urged the government: "Please, let us alone and allow us to do it. Please, don't interfere. Reliance will invest all the money needed and make the project a grand success."
Earlier SS Thakur, Chairman of Central Depositories Services India Ltd, presented a detailed assessment of the Government's policy on SEZs, pointed out its shortcomings and offered his suggestions.
IMC President Mr. Nayan Patel, who felicitated both the distinguished speakers, said SEZs in India have become "a highly sensitive and burning issue at this point of time , with politicians, farmers, corporates and media taking hard stances and voicing their opinions vociferously."
Patel said China began setting up giant SEZs - all with heavy government investment in world class infrastructures - way back in 1979 and called them 'laboratories', attracting huge foreign direct investment (FDI). As opposed to this, India belatedly began setting up Chinese style SEZs now; "but, these projects - mired in one controversy or the other - are struggling to get off the ground."
He cited controversies about the acquisition of agricultural lands of farmers, the credentials of SEZ developers, the possibility of huge revenue loss, the possibility of undercover migration of existing industries to SEZs for availing fiscal concessions, and about RBI norms of bank finance. However the following questions haunted the layman's mind:
* Will the unique Indian model of SEZs - with smaller areas of a few hundred or a few hectares vis-a-vis the Chinese model of few hundred square kilometres - succeed?
* Will the SEZs bleed the government revenues as a result of fiscal concessions, or will they augment economic growth in future?
* Are the SEZs in India, in reality, merely the 'real estate deals?
Nayan Patel however asserted, "Despite the varying viewpoints, at this juncture there is no escaping the fact that SEZs are a reality in India and we have to make a grand success of it. And IMC is committed to it."
Anand Jain responded: "Size of the project does matter. Success of SEZs depends on economy of scale. And international competitive edge and viability depends on economy of scale. This competitive edge comes from directly linked basic infrastructures, such as own residential townships, expressways, electricity generating source, airport and seaport."
Reliance would invest about Rs.35,000 crore for setting up all these facilities on its own. Its projections showed that the twin SEZs would help crystallize industrial investment - both by way of FDI and indigenous enterprises - to the tune of Rs.350,000 crore within a few years, which in turn will generate employment for 20 lakh people, and also generate huge tax revenues for the government.
Referring to the touchy subject of fiscal concessions to SEZs, he pointedly asked: "Show me one industrial unit in India that does not enjoy fiscal concessions. It is hypocrisy to point a finger at SEZ infrastructures and the units located at these zones. Fiscal incentives and concessions have always been part of the government policy. You can't single out SEZs and deny the benefits."
Giving a breakup of the proposed total investment of Rs350bn, Anand Jain said Navi Mumbai SEZ would require Rs40bn, Mumbai SEZ Rs100bn, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) Rs60bn, and Rewas Port Rs50bn, the International Airport Rs40bn, the dam and resultant water supply system Rs30bn, and the 2,050 mw captive power project Rs30bn.
Anand Jain asserted: "But, the first and foremost, the government should give a free hand to Reliance in implementing the project. And we will do it and show." Replying to a query about marketing the SEZ, he said :" India is hot, all poised, and in demand. We won't have to work hard to market."
Thakur said the viability of small sized SEZs was questionable "because they cannot have world class integrated infrastructures at competitive rates. They have to depend on general civic infrastructures outside the zone available at market prices."
Indiscriminate tax incentives offered to the SEZs, irrespective of their tiny sizes, had led to a mad rush for setting up SEZs by every state without considering the availability of even basic infrastructures and even their international competitiveness.
"More than 237 SEZs have been approved and many of them are singe product zones. Those SEZs which do not set up own infrastructures, but depend on the existing public infrastructures do not deserve tax concessions. “Tax breaks are justified for only those SEZs which create own infrastructures," he said.
Regarding land acquisition, Thakur felt that the land acquired is miniscule as compared to total arable land area of India and hence it would not pose a problem of food security. Likewise, the revenue loss will be fully compensated once exports start rising and FDI inflow increases. Also the cost of setting up these SEZs is estimated at about Rs 1 lakh crore, but since these are to be developed by private sector initiative, the Govt. of India in effect will be saving a lot of its revenue and this in turn can be made available for development of agriculture, education etc.
IMC Vice-President Niraj Bajaj said the SEZ projects, being implemented by Reliance Industries, were in the able hands of Anand Jain, closest confidante of Mr. Mukesh Ambani. There was no doubt that the project would be a great success story like the company's other mega projects in the past.
Note: Copy of post made in Jai Corp Holders Poll forum
India Infoline News Service / Mumbai Jan 15, 2007 14:53
Reliance is determined to set up its Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and their key infrastructures within a shortest possible time, asserts Anand Jain, who is spearheading Reliance’s initiative in setting up Navi Mumbai SEZ and the adjoining Mumbai SEZ projects.
Making a presentation on the twin projects - Navi Mumbai SEZ and the adjoining Mumbai SEZ - at a brainstorming session organized by IMC's Economic Research & Training Foundation (ERTF), Anand Jain urged the government: "Please, let us alone and allow us to do it. Please, don't interfere. Reliance will invest all the money needed and make the project a grand success."
Earlier SS Thakur, Chairman of Central Depositories Services India Ltd, presented a detailed assessment of the Government's policy on SEZs, pointed out its shortcomings and offered his suggestions.
IMC President Mr. Nayan Patel, who felicitated both the distinguished speakers, said SEZs in India have become "a highly sensitive and burning issue at this point of time , with politicians, farmers, corporates and media taking hard stances and voicing their opinions vociferously."
Patel said China began setting up giant SEZs - all with heavy government investment in world class infrastructures - way back in 1979 and called them 'laboratories', attracting huge foreign direct investment (FDI). As opposed to this, India belatedly began setting up Chinese style SEZs now; "but, these projects - mired in one controversy or the other - are struggling to get off the ground."
He cited controversies about the acquisition of agricultural lands of farmers, the credentials of SEZ developers, the possibility of huge revenue loss, the possibility of undercover migration of existing industries to SEZs for availing fiscal concessions, and about RBI norms of bank finance. However the following questions haunted the layman's mind:
* Will the unique Indian model of SEZs - with smaller areas of a few hundred or a few hectares vis-a-vis the Chinese model of few hundred square kilometres - succeed?
* Will the SEZs bleed the government revenues as a result of fiscal concessions, or will they augment economic growth in future?
* Are the SEZs in India, in reality, merely the 'real estate deals?
Nayan Patel however asserted, "Despite the varying viewpoints, at this juncture there is no escaping the fact that SEZs are a reality in India and we have to make a grand success of it. And IMC is committed to it."
Anand Jain responded: "Size of the project does matter. Success of SEZs depends on economy of scale. And international competitive edge and viability depends on economy of scale. This competitive edge comes from directly linked basic infrastructures, such as own residential townships, expressways, electricity generating source, airport and seaport."
Reliance would invest about Rs.35,000 crore for setting up all these facilities on its own. Its projections showed that the twin SEZs would help crystallize industrial investment - both by way of FDI and indigenous enterprises - to the tune of Rs.350,000 crore within a few years, which in turn will generate employment for 20 lakh people, and also generate huge tax revenues for the government.
Referring to the touchy subject of fiscal concessions to SEZs, he pointedly asked: "Show me one industrial unit in India that does not enjoy fiscal concessions. It is hypocrisy to point a finger at SEZ infrastructures and the units located at these zones. Fiscal incentives and concessions have always been part of the government policy. You can't single out SEZs and deny the benefits."
Giving a breakup of the proposed total investment of Rs350bn, Anand Jain said Navi Mumbai SEZ would require Rs40bn, Mumbai SEZ Rs100bn, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) Rs60bn, and Rewas Port Rs50bn, the International Airport Rs40bn, the dam and resultant water supply system Rs30bn, and the 2,050 mw captive power project Rs30bn.
Anand Jain asserted: "But, the first and foremost, the government should give a free hand to Reliance in implementing the project. And we will do it and show." Replying to a query about marketing the SEZ, he said :" India is hot, all poised, and in demand. We won't have to work hard to market."
Thakur said the viability of small sized SEZs was questionable "because they cannot have world class integrated infrastructures at competitive rates. They have to depend on general civic infrastructures outside the zone available at market prices."
Indiscriminate tax incentives offered to the SEZs, irrespective of their tiny sizes, had led to a mad rush for setting up SEZs by every state without considering the availability of even basic infrastructures and even their international competitiveness.
"More than 237 SEZs have been approved and many of them are singe product zones. Those SEZs which do not set up own infrastructures, but depend on the existing public infrastructures do not deserve tax concessions. “Tax breaks are justified for only those SEZs which create own infrastructures," he said.
Regarding land acquisition, Thakur felt that the land acquired is miniscule as compared to total arable land area of India and hence it would not pose a problem of food security. Likewise, the revenue loss will be fully compensated once exports start rising and FDI inflow increases. Also the cost of setting up these SEZs is estimated at about Rs 1 lakh crore, but since these are to be developed by private sector initiative, the Govt. of India in effect will be saving a lot of its revenue and this in turn can be made available for development of agriculture, education etc.
IMC Vice-President Niraj Bajaj said the SEZ projects, being implemented by Reliance Industries, were in the able hands of Anand Jain, closest confidante of Mr. Mukesh Ambani. There was no doubt that the project would be a great success story like the company's other mega projects in the past.
Note: Copy of post made in Jai Corp Holders Poll forum