Drugs and biotechnology currently dominate the upcoming special economic zone scenario in Goa, according to government statistics. Information technology comes next in order followed by gems & jewellery. As of end-November 2007, the Board of Approvals under the Union commerce ministry gave formal approval to seven SEZs in Goa, including three relating to drugs and pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Of these seven, three have so far been notified. The total land that the upcoming SEZs will occupy is around 370 hectares.
Mumbai-based Meditab Specialities Pvt. Ltd is setting up an SEZ for pharmaceutical and chemical products spread over 123 hectares of land at Kerim in Ponda taluka of North Goa district. This is the largest upcoming SEZ in Goa. Peninsula Pharma Research Centre and Inox Mercantile Company are also proposing to set up SEZs catering to biotechnology. In other sectors, Goa-based K. Raheja Corporation has planned to set up an SEZ over 106 hectares at Verna that will cater to the services sector. The lone gems and jewellery SEZ has been proposed by Planetview Mercantile Co. The SEZ will take shape at Verna.
Incidentally, the BoA till end-November 2007 gave formal approval to 404 SEZ all over India, covering total land of 54,051 hectares.
It may also be mentioned that given Goa's small geographical area and the resulting non-availability of contiguous land stretches, the government has relaxed the minimum land requirement for SEZs in the state. In the case of Goa, the minimum area requirements prescribed for a multi-product and sector-specific SEZ are 200 hectares and 50 hectares respectively, as against the requirement of 1,000 ha and 100 ha prescribed for other states. Such relaxations also exist for north-eastern states (including Sikkim) and Union territories.