State allows foreign educational institutions to set up campuses in Navi Mumbai SEZ

The state cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal allowing international educational and research institutions to set up their campuses on the land earmarked for Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (NMSEZ)

The state cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal allowing international educational and research institutions to set up their campuses on the land earmarked for Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (NMSEZ). The fields of study the government is focusing on are information technology, artificial intelligence, block chain technology, robotics, and medical research among others.

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The state expects an investment of ₹60,000 crore in creating these education hubs which could generate one lakh jobs. “The decision will enable international institutions to set up their campuses here. These units will help create modern educational and research facilities,” a government statement said.

The state government had in 2006 set up NMSEZ in a joint venture with CIDCO. However, it could not take off because of the changed economic situation and the revision in the tax structure brought in by the central government.

In 2018, the state decided to convert the SEZ into an integrated industrial zone and allowed industrial units and residential projects in the proportion of 85:15. The decision by the then Devendra Fadnavis government was in line with its earlier move taken under the industrial policy 2013 when it had decided to set up integrated industrial areas instead of SEZs.