The particulars of its Organisation, functions, and duties

The Cochin Special Economic Zone Authority (CSEZA) was constituted in accordance with the provisions of section 31 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, by notification dated 27th February 2009. The Authority became operational on 1st April, 2009. The corporate office of the Authority is at CSEZ, Kakkanad.

The Authority is headed by Shri D V Swamy, IAS, Chairman, which is a post held ex-officio by the Development Commissioner, Cochin Special Economic Zone. The present composition of Cochin Special Economic Zone Authority is as following:

1. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce, New Delhi.
2. Shri K.M Harilal, ITS, Joint DGFT, Cochin.
3. Deputy Development Commissioner, CSEZ.
4. Shri N. Jahangir, MD, M/s SFO Technologies Pvt. Ltd., CSEZ.
5. Smt. Suchitra Menon, Director & CEO, M/s WFB Baird & Co. (India) Pvt. Ltd. CSEZ

The first three are ex-officio members representing the Department of Commerce and the Central Government with experience in Special Economic Zones. The last two are entrepreneurs in CSEZ nominated for a term of 2 years by the Government of India.

The CSEZA is the Developer of Cochin Special Economic Zone, Kakkanad and performs the duties of a developer as stipulated in SEZ Act 2005 and SEZ Rules 2006, such as

• Development, operation and management of Cochin Special Economic Zone
• Development of infrastructure
• Promoting Exports from the Cochin Special Economic Zone
• Levy user or service charges or fees or rent for the use of properties belonging to the CSEZ Authority.
• The power and duties of its officers and employees

The Chairman is the Chief Executive of the Cochin Special Economic Zone Authority and heads the administration comprising of such officers as are considered necessary by the Authority for its efficient operation and with the approval of the Central Government. Presently the functions of the Authority are discharged as additional charge by the staff of the office of the Development Commissioner. The Assistant Development Commissioner (Infrastructure) has been designated in personem as the Secretary (in – charge) of the Authority.

Powers and functions of Authority

Chapter III- The Special Economic Zone Authority Rules, 2009

1. The Authority shall:-
   1. take all necessary measures for efficient management of the Zone and develop it as a financially viable organisation;
   2. prepare its returns and statements before the commencement of each financial year;
   3. decide the terms and conditions and remuneration for engagement of a Chartered Accountant for maintenance and finalisation of its accounts;
   4. approve the audited statements of its accounts pertaining to a financial year before the 30th September of the following financial year; and
   5. have powers to raise resources in a manner consistent with provisions of the SEZ Act and Rules framed thereunder.
2. The Authority shall prepare perspective plans for future expansion and shall undertake works of capital nature.
3. Each Authority shall have the powers to implement schemes for health and life insurance, contributory pension, housing and leave travel, if deemed necessary, for the welfare of its employees in collaboration with the private or public sector agencies, wherever applicable: Provided that the expenditure on such schemes shall not exceed five per cent. of its own revenues accrued during the previous financial year.
4. The Authority may designate the Secretary or one of its officers to be the authorised signatory for specific purposes permitting the use of facsimile of its common seal for authentication of relevant documents.
5. The Authority shall have its name engraved in legible characters on its seal.
6. The Authority shall have its name and address of its head office and branch office(s) mentioned in all its business letters, bill/Invoice, letter heads, notices, official publications, contracts and other instruments.
7. The Common seal of the Authority shall be in the custody of the Chairperson or in the custody of an officer of the Authority designated for the purpose by the Authority.

7. Power of the Authority to Expenditure. -

1. All expenditure of the Authority except as specified in the sub-rule (2) below, shall be approved by the Authority.
2. The Chairperson shall have,-
   1. powers to approve minor works and maintenance works of the Zone;
   2. powers to approve recurring expenditure in connection with-
       (a) Salaries,
       (b) Overtime allowances,
       (c) Travel Expenses,
       (d) Advertisement and Publicity,
       (e) Rent, Rates, Taxes,
       (f) Professional services and legal expenses, and
      Explanation : Minor works and maintenance works mentioned at clause (i) above means work costing less than rupees fifty lakhs per work.
   3. powers to approve contingent expenditure both recurring and non-recurring: Provided that the expenditure so incurred does not exceed rupees fifty lakhs at a time: Provided further that the Authority concerned shall be competent to incur such expenditure beyond rupees fifty lakhs.
3. The Chairperson of the Authority shall be competent to approve the official tours of other members and officers of the Authority undertaken in connection with the affairs of the Authority both within and outside the country in accordance to the rules applicable to the officers of the Central Government of equivalent rank posted at those places: Provided that the Chairperson shall be self controlling officer in respect of all travels: Provided further that prior sanction of the Central Government shall be obtained for the official travels of the Chairperson outside the country.
4. The Authority shall be competent to prescribe the entitlements regarding mode of travel, hotel accommodation, daily allowance, road mileage and other incidental expenditure in connection with the official functioning of its Chairperson and other employees as are applicable to the officers of the Central Government of equivalent rank posted at these places.
5. There shall be a complete ban on extension of service of any officer or employee of the Authority beyond the age of superannuation which shall be on par with the employees of the Central Government.
6. The Authority shall have powers to write-off irrecoverable losses of its property on account of theft, fraud, negligence, natural calamity, fire and irrecoverable lease rent, licence fee and other user charges in respect of the assets and services of the Authority, including irrecoverable dues on account of court orders and statutory proceedings: Provided that any write-off of losses beyond the sum of rupees one lakh shall be with the prior approval of the Central Government: Provided further that in all cases of write-off of losses full details and reasons for doing so shall be recorded in writing.
7. The Authority may enter into any contract for the discharge of its functions under the Act: Provided that every agreement or contract for technical collaboration or consultation with foreign Governments or their firms shall require the prior sanction of the Central Government.
8. All cheques and all pay orders for making deposit or investment or withdrawals of the sums or for the disposal in any manner of the funds of the Authority,- (a) shall be signed by two officers of the Authority nominated by the Chairperson for this purpose, if the cheques or pay orders are for an amount not exceeding rupee ten lakhs; and (b) shall be signed by the Chairperson of the Authority and the Secretary if exceeds rupee ten lakhs: Provided that in the absence of the Secretary such cheques or pay orders shall be signed by the Chairperson and any other officer of the Authority.



8. The Development Commissioner who is the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority shall-

1. in the absence of regular Secretary, may designate any officer of the Authority to act as Secretary to the Authority and such appointment shall be ratified by the Authority in its next meeting;
2. entrust such other duties and responsibilities to the Secretary;
3. implement the decisions of the Authority;
4. comply with the directions of the Central Government under section 38 of the Act for its efficient administration;
5. maintain the land records and title deeds of the Special Economic Zone concerned in safe custody;
6. defend the suits against the Central Government in any Court for payment of enhanced compensation for private lands acquired under the Land Acquisition Act for development of the Special Economic Zone;
7. defend all the proceedings or suits initiated against the Central Government or the Authority or any other officer on account of the actions taken by the Estate Officer of the Zone concerned under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971: Provided that the lease agreements as aforesaid which are in force as agreements between the President of India represented by the Development Commissioner and the Units or other parties as on the date of commencement of these rules shall be deemed to be executed between the Authority and the Units or other parties for the balance period of the lease; Provided that no sale or mortgaging or offering as collateral security or alienation in any other manner of movable and immovable property of the Central Government acquired on behalf of the President of India in terms of the provisions of the lease deed against any Unit in the Special Economic Zone and vested in the Central Government shall be permissible without the prior approval of the Central Government.
8. execute lease Agreement between the Authority and the Units or other parties in respect of built-up premises or land allotted, in the format specified by the Authority;
9. take steps to initiate legal proceedings against the Units or licence-holders in the Special Economic Zone concerned or defend all suits, applications, writ Petitions and any other legal proceedings as he considers necessary to protect the interest of the Authority and the Central Government;
10. may allot built-up premises or land to the entrepreneur for authorised operation after issue of Letter of Approval by the Development Commissioner;
11. take steps to ensure recovery of all the dues of the Authority and the Central Government;
12. to recommend actions as per the procedures prescribed under the Special Economic Zones Act and the rules made thereunder and Foreign Trade Policy to suspend or cancel the Import-Export Code Number or cancel the Letter of Approval, Letter of Permission in respect of any Unit inside the Zone where such action is warranted on account of violation of conditions of lease or licence;
13. prevent the entry of unauthorised persons into the Zone and regulate and restrict the entry of private and other public vehicles and goods carriers in the interest of safety and security of the various Units inside the Zone and their workers;
14. sign all instruments of contract with regard to lease, acquisition, holding and disposal by way of sale or otherwise of any immovable property and it shall be duly authenticated by common seal of the Authority:

The procedure followed in the decision making process

The Cochin Special Economic Zone Authority follows the procedure indicated in Manual of Office Procedure, The Special Economic Authority Rules 2009 and Chapter VII of Special Economic Act 2005 for decision making.

The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions

The Cochin Special Economic Zone Authority follows the norms indicated in Manual of Office Procedure, The Special Economic Zone Authority Rules 2009 and Chapter VII of Special Economic Zone Act 2005 for discharge of its functions

The rules regulations, and instructions manuals and records held by it

Rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records held by CSEZA or under its control or used by CSEZA employees for discharging its functions.

Sl. No.	Rules
1.	SEZ Act 2005 and SEZ Rules 2006
2.	Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971.
3.	Government of India Rules, Regulations and instructions issued by various Ministries/Departments and all other relevant Acts and Rules.




A statement of the categories of document that are held by it

Annual Reports

Annual Report 17-18	View
Annual Report 16-17	View
Annual Report 15-16	View
Annual Report 14-15	View
Annual Report 13-14	View
Annual Report 12-13	View
Annual Report 11-12	View
Annual Report 10-11	View
Annual Report 09-10	View

Particulars of any arrangements that exist for consultation

Particulars of all senior officers (Contact numbers and Email) is available on the website of the Cochin Special Economic Zone Authority (www.csezauthority.in) for members of general public for consultation/ representation/ clarification



A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies.

The Agenda and meeting of the CSEZ Authority in available in (www.csezauthority.in) and is open to the public.



Directory of CSEZA officers and employees.

There are no officers/employees posted in CSEZA. The officers/employees of Office of the Development Commissioner, CSEZ do the work of CSEZA as additional work. The details of the Officers/Employees doing additional work in CSEZA are given below:- ...Updated Shortly..



Monthly remuneration received by CSEZA officers

There is no monthly remuneration to the officers working in CSEZA. However, they are given a monthly honorarium for the additional work as given below:-



The manner of execution of subsidy programmes

There are no subsidy programmes executed by this office.



The particulars of recipient of concessions, permits or authorizations

There are no concessions, permits and authorizations issued by this office.



Details in respect of the information available in an electronic form

8. Format of Lease Deed (SDF)
9. Format of Lease Deed (Plot)
10. Application for using CSEZ OFC Network
11. Forms (Power)
12. Application for Water Connection
13. IWMS - Agreement for Units (in Rs.200 non judicial stamp paper)
14. IWMS - Agreement for Service Providers (in Rs.100 non judicial stamp paper)

Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of library or reading room, if maintained for public use.

Website of the authority at www.csezauthority.in