The Government today cleared proposals for setting up new Special Economic Zones (SEZ), including an airport-based SEZ in Kerala by Cochin International Airport Ltd and a solar SEZ project of Lanco Solar in Chhattisgarh. The Board of Approval (BoA) of the SEZs also granted formal approvals to an SEZ by Sterlite Industries in Tamil Nadu and three biotech SEZs in Andhra Pradesh. Indus Gene Expressions, Shantha Biotechnics and Suchirindia Infrastructure were given permission to go ahead with their SEZ plans. BoA also approved seven proposals for grant of co-developer status. These include the proposal of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd for a Multi Product SEZ in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, where Greentech Industries (India) will be the Co-Developer. The decision on Larsen & Toubro's request to set up IT/ITeS SEZ over 10 hectares in Mysore, Karnataka was deferred as more clarifications were required. The BoA also allowed three developers, including Unitech Infopark, Wardha Power Company and Estra IT Park to surrender their SEZs as they had cited economic slowdown as reason for surrendering their tax-free enclaves. Additional time was granted to the 29 developers to execute their SEZ projects. The SEZ sector has attracted more than USD 28 billion investments over the past three-and-a-half years in the 105 zones that are now operational.