More SEZs may be permitted.
The government had fixed the number of SEZs in the country to be in the range of 150. This was because it did not expect the kind of enthusiastic response that the SEZ scheme had elicited. This is not the final limit and may be expanded according to Mr. GK Pillai, Special Secretary in the Commerce Ministry. 105 approvals had already been given in three months.
Mr. Pillai said that the provisions of the SEZ Act would prevail when they were in conflict with other laws. This was meant for customs, excise and income tax officers to note.