The Hindu Business Line : 4 panchayats to gain from export zone relaxation

THE relaxation of the threshold limit for `Towns of Export Excellence', announced in the Foreign Trade Policy, will significantly help Kerala's seafood processing areas located in Alappuzha district.

Four panchayats in the district can now claim for the status of Town of Export Excellence since they together house one of the largest clusters of seafood processing units in the country, said Mr Sandu Joseph, Secretary, Seafood Exporters Association of India.

"There are 45 processing plants and 75 pre-processing plants in the Aroor, Ezhupunna, Kodanturuthu and Kuthiathodu panchayats. Of these, 20-25 are approved by the European Union," Mr Joseph said.

Collectively, these units make up for exports worth Rs 600 crore a year. Kerala accounts for about 18 per cent of seafood exports (in terms of value) from the country.

The Foreign Trade Policy announced on Tuesday brought down the cost of developing Towns of Export Excellence to Rs 250 crore from Rs 1,000 crore. This relaxation would now help the panchayats to be eligible for the status, which once bestowed would provide them a number of benefits.

Mr Joseph said that the Kerala Government had already recommended the status for the panchayats after conducting a study.The Towns of Export Excellence status would help the area achieve more infrastructure development with assistance from the Central and State Governments.

For instance, Tirupur, a major hub of knitwear exports in the country, has received investment to the tune of Rs 600 crore for beefing up infrastructure.

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