Figures from the Commerce Ministry show that in the year ended March 2009, exports from special economic zones (SEZs) recorded a growth rate of 33%, far exceeding the country’s overall exports growth of just 4%. Exports from SEZs totaled Rs 89,000 crore ($18.16 billion) last year, amounting to 10.76% of total exports, as compared to Rs 63,637 crore ($13.60 billion) a year before.
India’s overall exports have been hit due to the global economic recession and slump in demand in most developed economies.
SEZ exports have fared better due to the overall exports mainly because most exporters in the zones are manufacturers, who have seemingly handled the recession better than the trading exporters. Moreover, the SEZs were able to cut costs and remain competitive due to the advantages of a superior infrastructure.
Source : iitrade.ac.in