http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=118827 AP's street-smart SEZ strategy
Identifies locations close to airport facilties of *neighbouring states* SATYA NAAGESH AYYAGARY & KVVV CHARYA <In a strategic exercise, the AP government proposes to use its neighbours' present and upcoming international airports by locating special economic zones (SEZs), including product-specific ones, in the Andhra-Tamil Nadu and Andhra-Karnataka borders. The Greenfield GMR Hyderabad International Airport is scheduled to come up in the first quarter of 2008. "We will have three international airports," chief cinister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said, referring to the Chennai International Airport, the proposed Hyderabad International Airport and the International Airport in Devanahalli near Bangalore. AP shares its border with Karnataka, wherein Bangalore is 65 km from Hindupur (the same distance from Devanahalli to Bangalore) and Tada near Nellore is an hour's drive from Chennai. Moreover, to get from Devanhalli to the IT and ITeS clusters, one has go negotiate through Bangalore's notoriously congested traffic. In fact, the first moves in this regard have already been made. AP signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) early this year, on the eve of the Fourth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, with Apache Footwear Limited (AFL), makers of Adidas footwear, apparel and goods for a Rs 500-crore, 100% export-oriented unit on a 314-acre site near Tada. Once production starts this September, the plant will roll out a million pairs of shoes per month, employing about 30,000 people. Raw material will be shipped in and finished goods will be shipped out from Chennai international airport. > =========== The only chink in AP's armour might be the abject surrender of Begumpet airport to the military once HIAL Shamshabad is ready! This will be big mistake.
