Exports from Hassan SEZ crosses Rs.350 cr

Hassan Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which has been developed by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), has achieved an export of Rs.350 crore during 2010.

The corresponding exports during 2008 and 2009 were Rs.228.71 crore and Rs.329.28 crore respectively. The Hassan SEZ comprises multi-product export units in textiles (Himatsingka Seide Ltd and NTC), food processing (Fresco Foods Ltd.) and pharma sector with a total area of approx. 460 hectares.

The approximate investment planned by KIADB to develop these units was more than Rs.100 crores. These units in the Hassan SEZ has the employment potential for about 90,000 people viz., 35000 in textile sector; 30000 in food processing and 25000 in pharma sector.

The National Textile Corporation (NTC) is planning to export its shirts under brand name ?Entyce? to the US and Europe markets with a production capacity of about 50,000 shirts per day.

The Unit is expected to produce 10,000 kg of yarn and 20,000 meters of fabric every day.

Himatsingka Seide Ltd which has recently commissioned its new bed Linen manufacturing facility in the SEZ, has state-of-the-art integrated plant with weaving, processing and making up facilities having an annual installed capacity of 20 million meters, which corresponds to 9,000 sheet sets a day.

Against an estimated project outlay of Rs.400 crore, the company has invested around Rs.450 crore so far. Fresco Foods Ltd., another food processing unit is exporting gherkins to developed markets in Europe.

To act as a true catalyst of socio-economic development, units at Hassan SEZs are undertaking CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities for its employees. The objective is balancing the need of socio-economic growth with that of social emancipation.

One of the SEZ units involved in textile export engages around 5000 women workforce from poor and marginally poor families.

Hassan SEZ has been specially delineated as duty-free enclave with the objective of being deemed to be a foreign territory for the purpose of trade operations. The geographical location also gives it an edge as it is strategically located to serve as an international business hub for South-East Asia, Africa, Middle East Asia and SAARC nations.