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."

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, chaired a high-level review meeting on 29.4.2026 to deliberate on the Plan of Action for achieving India’s USD 2 Trillion export target by 2030–31 and to review the implementation of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM). India is targeting USD 2 Trillion in total exports by 2030–31, comprising USD 1 Trillion in merchandise exports and USD 1 Trillion in services exports. The Department of Commerce has developed a structured Export Monitoring Framework, which breaks down the national target into sector-wise actions across Engineering Goods, Textiles, Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Services. Chairman Shri Badiga Srikanth and CGC member Shri Vilas Gupta represented on behalf of EPCES. Shri Badiga raised the problems being faced in the recent notification on SEZ to DTA supplies on concessional duties, long pending issues of INR payment for supply of services to DTA and reverse job work

India and New Zealand formally signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on April 27, 2026, during a major industry gathering at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Concluding in a record nine months after formal negotiations were initiated in March 2025, the pact represents one of India's fastest trade agreements to date. From day one, 100% of Indian exports—covering 8,284 tariff lines including textiles, leather, ceramics, and engineering goods—gain immediate duty-free access to the New Zealand market, eliminating prior tariffs of up to 10%. Concurrently, to safeguard domestic agricultural and manufacturing interests, India successfully excluded sensitive sectors such as dairy, onions, sugar, edible oils, and select metals from any tariff concessions.

Beyond trade in goods, the agreement establishes a robust framework for services, mobility, and investment. It introduces a new Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) pathway that provides 5,000 visas for skilled Indian professionals across IT, engineering, and healthcare, alongside an unprecedented annex granting extended post-study work visas for Indian students. Economically, New Zealand has committed to facilitating $20 billion in direct investments into India over the next 15 years, aligning with a mutual strategic goal to double bilateral trade to $5 billion. Furthermore, the deal significantly reduces technical barriers to trade by streamlining customs procedures. Crucially, the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors will benefit from faster market access through the acceptance of international Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) reports, thereby lowering compliance costs. Hailed by leadership from both nations as a "once-in-a-generation" defining milestone, this pact marks India's third successful trade agreement with a "Five Eyes" alliance member, expanding its Indo-Pacific footprint and positioning exporters on a superior global footing.

The Development Commissioner’s (DC) office at Noida Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) organized a vital stakeholder meeting this evening to coordinate a performance audit conducted by the Office of the Principal Director of Audit (PDC Central), Lucknow. Chaired by Shri Parasmani Tripathi, JDC, and attended by DDC Shri Noman Hafiz and other senior officials, the meeting was supported by EPCES NSEZ, which facilitated the participation of 26 member units. The primary focus was on evaluating the zone's operational efficiency, export performance, and infrastructure adequacy, with PAC officials noting that the final report would be forwarded to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) department. During the discussion, units raised critical concerns regarding the delay in RoDTEP benefits and the lack of credit in bonds for shipments processed at Dadri port. Significant technical hurdles on the ICEGATE portal, including the slow processing of both import and export shipping documents, were also highlighted as major operational bottlenecks. Additionally, stakeholders requested the availability of customs services on holidays and discussed the high charges levied by the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) for shipment examinations. The meeting served as a crucial platform for units to provide direct feedback and suggestions to improve policy effectiveness and streamline zone administration.