The Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), on November 21, 2025, notified regarding Commerce Secretary Engages with Industry Stakeholders to Address Key SEZ Policy and Operational Challenges.
The following have been stated:-
• An industry interface organised by Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES) brought together over 150 stakeholders for an interaction with Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal, IAS in Chennai, today. Representatives from Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units and developers highlighted issues related to Special Economic Zone(SEZ)– Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) transactions, duty foregone, ICEGATE connectivity constraints, import monitoring systems, and reverse job work challenges faced by MSMEs. IT/ITES stakeholders raised concerns over rules on vacant built-up area classification, timelines for renewal of Letters of Approval (LoA), and procurement attestation requirements that differ from GST norms.
• Participants also drew attention to the lack of parity for SEZ units under concessional import duty and duty drawback schemes available to DTA units, operational inefficiencies introduced by the new Procurement Certificate process, countervailing duties imposed by the US, and the need to review QCO applicability for SEZ-to-DTA sales, particularly in cases such as KASEZ.
[Press Release id. 2192600]
