New Delhi (PTI): Exports from special economic zones are likely to grow by about 10 per cent to Rs 1,10,000 crore in 2009-10 financial year, Parliament was told on Wednesday.

"Exports worth Rs 99,689 crore have been made from SEZs during 2008-09 registering a growth of 50 per cent over the exports for the year 2007-08 ... Projection of exports for 2009-10 is Rs 1,10,000 crore," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Scindia said that tax-free zones in Andhra Pradesh contributed Rs 2,727 crore to the total SEZ exports.

So far 576 formal approvals have been given for setting up SEZs, of which 319 have been notified.

The country's tax-free enclaves have attracted foreign direct investment of over Rs 10,900 crore in the last three years.

India's overall exports, however, are in the negative zone since October 2008. Exports grew by meager 3.4 per cent to USD 168 billion (Rs 7,66,935 crore) in FY'09.

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