MEPZ Special Economic Zone at Tambaram, Chennai. | Photo Credit: BIJOY GHOSH

Exports from the MEPZ Special Economic Zone (SEZ) stood at ₹2.22 lakh crore in FY26, registering marginal growth from ₹2.13 lakh crore in the previous fiscal, according to Alex Paul Menon, Development Commissioner, MEPZ.

The cumulative investment in the zone reached ₹82,844 crore during FY26, while total employment touched 6.26 lakh people.

The Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Puducherry (TAP) region continues to be the country’s largest SEZ cluster, with 50 operational SEZs out of a total of 62 notified zones. Three more SEZs are expected to become operational over the next three years. The region currently houses 749 operational SEZ units and 288 Export Oriented Units (EOUs).

Highlighting the region’s long-term growth trajectory, Menon said exports from the TAP region have more than tripled over the last decade, rising from ₹68,104 crore in FY2015 to a record ₹2.2 lakh crore in FY26.

Investment in the region has also doubled during the period, increasing from ₹41,489 crore to ₹82,844 crore. Of the cumulative investment, domestic investments account for ₹74,165.75 crore, while foreign direct investment (FDI) stands at ₹8,677.9 crore.

Key driver

Employment generation has been another key driver of growth. The workforce in the region expanded from 2.87 lakh to 6.26 lakh over the past decade, creating more than 3.39 lakh additional jobs. During FY26 alone, SEZs and EOUs in the region generated 18,888 new jobs, reflecting continued industrial and export-led expansion.

Beyond digital services, the manufacturing landscape is highly diversified. Engineering, Electronics & Hardware emerged as the leading manufacturing vertical, contributing 7.4 per cent to the export basket with ₹16,384 crore. Additionally, the non-leather footwear sector demonstrated strong resilience and growth, increasing by 10 per cent year-on-year from ₹3,669 crore to ₹4,027 crore.

This industrial engine is powered by critical zones such as MEPZ SEZ, ZOHO Estancia, World Trade Center, L&T Shipbuilding SEZ, DLF Cybercity IT SEZ, J Matadee FTWZ, and Cheyyar SEZ.

Published on June 10, 2026