'Hassan SEZ Changing Socio-economic Landscape' - Centre
New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS): Clocking an export target of Rs.1,000 crore and creating 90,000 potential jobs, the Hassan Special Economic Zone in Karnataka has also begun undertaking corporate social responsibility, the government said Sunday.
"To act as a true catalyst of socio-economic development, units at Hassan SEZs are undertaking CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities for their employees," said the commerce and industry ministry in an official statement.
"The objective is to balance the need of socio-economic growth with that of social emancipation. One of the SEZ units involved in textile export engages around 5,000 women workforce from poor and marginally poor families," it said.
"True to its value of empowering women, SEZ units have changed socio-economic landscape of the entire region," it said.
Developed near western coast at the cost of around Rs.100 crore by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), Hassan SEZ comprises multi-product export units in textiles, food processing and pharma sector spread over approximately 460 hectares.
"The SEZ has already 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 ministry added in its statement.
"The geographical location gives Hassan SEZ an edge as it is strategically located to serve as an international business hub for South-East Asia, Africa, Middle East Asia and SAARC (South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation) nations," it added.
Detailing activities of some of the export-oriented units at Hassan SEZ, the ministry said the National Textile Corporation (NTC), having a capacity to produce over 50,000 shirts per day, is planning to export these under brand name "Entyce" to the US and European markets.
"The unit is expected to produce 10,000 kg of yarn and 20,000 metres of fabric every day, the ministry said.
Yet another textile firm, Himatsingka Seide Ltd recently commissioned its new bed linen manufacturing facility in the SEZ, with a capacity to produce annually 20 million metres of yarn, corresponding to 9,000 bed-sheet sets a day, said the ministry.