Visakhapatnam: Minimal impact of lockdown on VSEZ's exports

Visakhapatnam: It is well appreciated by the whole nation that, lockdown 1.0 to 4.0 have brought a tremendous impact on the economic performance of markets of the country, especially the production and exports from the industrial sector, but had a minimal impact on SEZs& EOUs within VSEZ, due to pragmatic approach and work from home concepts, says A Rama Mohan Reddy, Zonal Development Commissioner, Special Economic Zone at Visakhapatnam.

During lockdown 1.0 only Pharma and Essential units (food based like coffee etc.,) were allowed to work with only 1/3 of its normal workforce and the offices were working from home completely.

Later lockdowns have brought more relaxations step by step, and finally lockdown 4.0 has allowed SEZs and EOUs to completely operationalise with little restrictions but with strict compliance of Standard operating Procedures put in place by the MoHA, GOI, except in the confinement zones and in this context VSEZ has made 96% units operational, says Reddy.