Government has set up an inter-ministerial committee on larger SEZ Reforms and harmonisation of Export Promotion Schemes in February 2026 under the chair of Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce. Image Link - https://www.epces.in/# The Committee had stakeholder consultation on 30.6.2026 at Vanijya Bhawan. The consultation was organised by the Export Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZs (SEZEPC). Shri Badiga Srikanth, Chairman SEZEPC and Group Director Phoenix Group, welcomed the participants and initiated the discussion. Shri Alok Chaturvedi, Director General SEZEPC made a presentation on issues raised by stakeholders and moderated the discussions. Shri Rajesh Agarwal, Commerce Secretary also joined the discussions. More than 100 participants representing SEZ developers, SEZ units, EOUs, MOOWR units, DTA (domestic tariff area) units, IT/ITES units, think tank and advisory firms participated in the programme

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal today urged State Governments to fully utilise the BHAVYA Industrial Parks Scheme and accord the highest priority to exports, calling for a coordinated national effort to strengthen India's export competitiveness. Addressing the one-day Board of Trade (BoT) meeting today in New Delhi, the Minister outlined a seven-point action agenda for States, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), industry associations and exporters to accelerate India's export growth.

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal chaired an interaction with Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and Industry Associations in New Delhi on 24th June 2026 to review progress under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and discuss strategies for accelerating India's export growth. The meeting built upon the consensus reached during an earlier interaction with EPCs that the focus must extend beyond addressing individual organisational concerns to developing a structured and coordinated action plan for expanding exports, accessing new markets, promoting new products and enhancing the contribution of each Council to the country's overall export performance.

Shri Badiga Srikanth, Chairman Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (SEZEPC) participated in the meeting of Governor, Reserve Bank of India with Representatives of Export Organisations in Mumbai on June 25, 2026. The discussions during the meeting covered matters related to Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, including export-related regulations, export credit, Letters of Credit, and other procedural aspects. Participants shared their suggestions and feedback on policy and operational matters affecting the export sector.

An outreach program showcasing the achievements, progress, and future vision of Gujarat’s SEZ sector over the past 12 years was inaugurated on 17.6.2026 by Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India; Shri Gyaneshwar B. Patil, Zonal Development Commissioner of Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ); and Shri P. Swaroop, Industries Commissioner, Government of Gujarat. The event was organized jointly by the Government of Gujarat and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

On June 19, 2026, Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Jitin Prasada, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Customs Export–Import Facilitation Centre at SDF VIII, SEEPZ-SEZ, Mumbai, marking a significant milestone in strengthening trade facilitation and export infrastructure within one of India’s premier Special Economic Zones.

The Ministry of Commerce has set up a high-level committee, chaired by Additional Secretary Shri Ajay Bhadoo, to draft a "SEZ 2.0" policy and harmonize overlapping export schemes like SEZs, EOUs, and MOOWR. The committee will be holding a stakeholder consultation at 1030-1300 on June 30, 2026 in Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. Constitution of the Committee

India stands at an important moment in its democratic and developmental journey. On 10 June 2026, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji completes 4,399 consecutive days in office and continuing, becoming the longest-serving Prime Minister of India. This landmark achievement is not merely a matter of time in office, but a reflection of sustained leadership, public trust, decisive governance and an enduring commitment to nation-building. Over the past 12 glorious years, India has witnessed a journey of remarkable transformation under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. His tenure has been characterised by bold policy decisions, far-reaching reforms, inclusive development and a clear focus on placing the nation first. From empowering the poor, farmers, women and youth to strengthening India’s economy, expanding infrastructure, promoting digital transformation and enhancing India’s global stature, this period has shaped a new era of confidence, progress and opportunity. To commemorate this historic occasion and highlight 12 glorious years of Lok Seva, a set of documents showcasing key milestones and achievements of India’s transformational journey is being shared from the morning of 10 June 2026. These documents may be used as reference material for preparing social media posts, creative graphics, videos, internal communications, messages and other outreach activities to ensure wider dissemination of this important national message. As the head of your esteemed organisation, I earnestly appeal to you to actively promote this message across your organisation and among your employees, customers, business associates, stakeholders and professional networks. Your support in encouraging wider sharing through social media platforms and communication channels will play an important role in amplifying the story of India’s progress, good governance and inclusive growth. The industry has been a vital partner in India’s growth journey. On this historic occasion, let us come together to celebrate the achievements of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and showcase India’s remarkable transformation with pride, unity and collective commitment. I look forward to your active participation, support and cooperation in making this outreach meaningful and impactful. Jai Bharat Warm regards, BadigaSrikanth Chairman SEZEPC

An interactive meeting was held at the office of the Development Commissioner, Noida Special Economic Zone (NSEZ), on 10 June 2026 to discuss key issues being faced by NSEZ units in the export of goods. The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi, Director General, SEZEPC, and Shri Gopal Meena, Development Commissioner, NSEZ. The meeting was attended by senior officials including JDC, NSEZ, Deputy Commissioner Customs, NSEZ, and DDCs. EPCES Noida coordinated the participation of prominent NSEZ units, including Idemia Syscom Pvt. Ltd., Aquaplus Pvt. Ltd., Arditi International, Taurus Englobe Pvt. Ltd., APK Identification, Golden Peacock Pvt. Ltd., Sara Trans International, Maharishi Ayurveda Ltd., Cenit Inc., Advance Valves Pvt. Ltd., RFB Latex Ltd. and Neo Kraft Global. The major issues discussed during the meeting included mandatory Quality Control Order compliance for SEZ to DTA supplies, particularly for lighting products; SEZ to DTA supplies on duty foregone basis and related limited BCD benefits; income tax notices received by NSEZ units regarding non-deduction of TDS on rent paid to NSEZ office; eligibility of bank loans for NSEZ units and the need to increase the duration of lease agreements. The units also raised concerns regarding infrastructure issues at Moradabad SEZ, high charges of Central Warehousing Corporation for air shipments sent through guarded vans to IGI Airport from NSEZ, high rent for SDFs and plots in NSEZ, non-credit of export bond after shipments from gateway ports, and non-disbursement of RoDTEP benefits for sea shipments handed over at Dadri Port, Greater Noida.

On May 25, 2026, Shri Gopal Meena, IAS (2007 Batch, Bihar Cadre), officially took charge as the new Development Commissioner of the Noida Special Economic Zone (NSEZ). To mark the occasion, Shri Vilas Gupta (CGC Member), Shri Sunil Puri (Regional Chairman, EPCES Noida), and other RGC members warmly welcomed the new DC. The EPCES delegation took the opportunity to brief Shri Meena on the council's role and presented him with key EPCES publications.

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 22.5.2026 chaired a high-level review meeting on the progress of GIFT City and its evolving international financial services ecosystem, at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. The review meeting was also attended by Shri P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister; Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat; senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of Gujarat, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), and GIFT City officials

The Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES) proudly announces that its Chairman, Mr. Srikanth Badiga, Group Director of Phoenix, has been re-elected to the Board of Directors of the prestigious World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) for a second consecutive four-year tenure spanning 2026-2030. This landmark election concluded during the World FZO’s Annual General Assembly at the 12th World Congress held in Panama City on May 14th, 2026. Mr. Srikanth Badiga, Chairman of the Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES), featured as a prominent global speaker at the prestigious 12th World FZO World Congress, held at the Panama Convention Center from May 12–14, 2026. Convened under the theme “Free Zones in the New Global Operating Model: Challenges and Opportunities,” the three-day global forum brought together heads of state, ministers, and zone authorities to map out AI-enabled manufacturing, green transitions, and resilient economic policies. Mr. Badiga actively shared India's special economic regimes on the global stage, lending expert insights across three high-profile panels: the foundational BRICS+ discussion, the exclusive inter-ministerial roundtable, and a dedicated session titled "From Supply Chains to Value Networks: Resilience and Regional Integration."