The Hindu Business Line : Centre plans SEZs in 10 States to attract NRI funds

LAUNCHING a major initiative to attract NRI investments into India, the Union Government has decided to set up special economic zones (SEZs) with highly developed infrastructural facilities in all State capitals.

In the first phase, at least 10 States will have such zones. In another initiative, the Government would come up with dual citizenship for NRIs in two months.

Announcing these decision here at a press conference, Mr Jagdish Tytler, Union Minister of State for NRI (Non-Resident Indian) Affairs, said States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat, which had sent a huge number of people abroad, would house such zones.

Andhra Pradesh will become the first State to have such zones. "It will have zones at Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has given his nod for this proposal," he said.

Besides having standard infrastructural facilities such as health, education, transport and power, these zones would be entitled for speedy clearances.

The main complaint from NRIs was that they got vexed with long delays in project sanctions. He said the seven-day-old Ministry would act as a nodal point for all the issues related to NRIs.

The Government would assign the related tasks to State governments so as to put the things in place. "We must create the right kind of atmosphere for them to come and invest here," he said.

Earlier, the Minister held discussions with NRIs from Andhra Pradesh to get feedback from them.