MEPZ Special Economic Zone

What MEPZ Special Economic Zone does

MEPZ Special Economic Zone is a government-administered Special Economic Zone Authority under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, headquartered in Tambaram, Chennai, with jurisdictional coverage across the TAP Region (Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Puducherry). Originally established in 1983 as the Madras Export Processing Zone and re-anchored under the SEZ Act 2005, MEPZ facilitates export-oriented manufacturing and IT/ITeS operations by providing a duty-free enclave treated as foreign territory for trade, customs, and tariffs.

The Authority administers unit setup approvals through a fortnightly Unit Approval Committee chaired by the Zonal Development Commissioner (currently Alex Paul Menon, IAS), with single-window clearance, in-house customs, and 24x7 Green Channel operations. Its core products and infrastructure include the SEZ Online Portal (NDML), an online Benefit Calculator, a Performance Dashboard, the Estate Management Module, the Trade Facilitation Centre (1,200-seat auditorium, incubation center, conference halls), and the MAPS smart-pole network (254 poles with cameras, Wi-Fi, lighting, and display boards). Tenant units also gain access to shared wastewater treatment (ETPs/STPs) and, for select partners, FTWZ warehousing such as Sequel Logistics' bullion vault.

MEPZ generates revenue by leasing industrial plots and built-up space to manufacturing and service units, with monthly rent collection via the Billdesk payment system, alongside service charges for shared infrastructure and procedural approvals. Its customer base spans IT/ITeS, agro/food processing, textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and leather/footwear, with named tenants including Yokohama Off-Highway Tires, Sutherland Global Services, Allison Transmission India, Chiptest Engineering, Ideal Fastener, Syrma SGS Technology, HTC Global Services, and Sequel Logistics. The zone houses approximately 36,000 workers across these units and reported Rs. 2.22 lakh crore in aggregate tenant exports in FY26, flat year-over-year, while ranking first in India in SEZ production and exports.

Name

MEPZ Special Economic Zone

Legal name

MEPZ SEZ

Website

https://mepz.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MEPZ Special Economic Zone is a Government of India SEZ Authority under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, headquartered in Chennai. It administers export-oriented manufacturing and IT/ITeS units across the TAP Region through single-window approvals, duty exemptions, and shared smart infrastructure, serving enterprise tenants and ranked first in India in SEZ production and exports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Economic Zone Infrastructure and Administration

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Hard Services (MEP/HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) (BPABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bonded Container Yards & In-Bond Depot Storage (TLALAGAE)

Keywords

• Special economic zone administration
• Export processing services
• Industrial infrastructure leasing
• Customs facilitation services
• Investment zone regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. SEZ Unit Lease and Infrastructure Services: MEPZ SEZ generates revenue through lease of industrial plots and built-up spaces to manufacturing and service units operating within the zone, along with providing infrastructure facilities and services.
2. Rent Collection: Collection of rent from units through online payment systems like Billdesk

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MEPZ Special Economic Zone is a government-administered Special Economic Zone Authority under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. It administers the Madras Export Processing Zone in Tambaram, Chennai, providing lease of industrial plots and built-up spaces to manufacturing, IT/ITeS, and service units, along with single-window clearance, in-house 24x7 customs operations, regulatory approvals, and world-class infrastructure including smart surveillance, wastewater management, and a Trade Facilitation Centre.

Product overview

MEPZ Special Economic Zone is a government authority administering the Madras Export Processing Zone under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Rather than offering a unified software product, it provides a portfolio of administrative services and physical infrastructure supporting export-oriented businesses. The core service offering includes SEZ and EOU unit setup facilitation, investor support through benefit calculation tools, and a performance dashboard for zone metrics. Digital services include the SEZ Online Portal for application processing. The portfolio is complemented by physical infrastructure assets—Trade Facilitation Centre, MAPS smart security system, and wastewater management facilities—that collectively enable businesses to establish and operate within the zone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEZ Unit Setup and Approval Services Administrative services facilitating the establishment and operation of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Export Oriented Unit (EOU) businesses within the MEPZ zone, including approval processing, land allotment, and regulatory compliance management. Target customers are domestic and foreign enterprises seeking to set up export-oriented units.
• Investor Facilitation Services Support services including single-window clearance, guidance on scheme benefits, and assistance navigating SEZ and EOU establishment procedures for domestic and foreign investors.
• Benefit Calculator An online tool enabling prospective investors to calculate fiscal and regulatory benefits available under the SEZ and EOU schemes, including duty exemptions, tax benefits, and compliance advantages.
• Performance Dashboard A data visualization platform providing aggregated metrics on zone performance including exports, investments, and employment generation across MEPZ Special Economic Zone.
• Trade Facilitation Centre Physical infrastructure within MEPZ SEZ featuring a 1,200-seat auditorium, conference halls, boardrooms, incubation center, tennis court, food court, and training hall for business events and skill development programs available to units operating in the zone.
• SEZ Online Portal An online portal operated by NDML for submitting and tracking SEZ-related applications, filings, and approvals, enabling digital processing of unit setup and operational requests.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.22 lakh crore in exports (FY26)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered community, strategic and core.

• Dr. Rela Institute & Medical CentercommunityOthersHealthcare partnership for annual health check-up programs at MEPZ SEZ. The hospital collaborates with MEPZ to provide medical services to employees working in the zone.
• Dr. Agarwal Eye HospitalcommunityOthersEye care partnership for annual health camp programs at MEPZ SEZ, providing eye check-ups and services to zone employees.
• Dhirubhai Ambani University School of LawstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for hosting Leadership Roundtable on ESG, CBAM and the Future of Export Competitiveness in February 2026. Academic partnership for policy discussions and knowledge sharing.
• TN GuidancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTamil Nadu government's investment promotion agency. Allied organization for guiding investors and providing state-level facilitation for businesses setting up in MEPZ SEZ.
• SIPCOTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTamil Nadu State Industries Promotion Corporation. Allied organization working with MEPZ for industrial development in the state.
• ELCOTcoreTechnology or IntegrationElectronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu. Allied organization driving IT initiatives and empowering technopreneurs, supporting IT sector development in the region.
• DGFTcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDirectorate General of Foreign Trade. Allied organization providing regulatory framework and policy guidance for export-import operations under SEZ scheme.
• Sequel LogisticsstrategicOthersIndia's leading precious logistics company that established its third and largest FTWZ (Free Trade Warehousing Zone) bullion vault at MEPZ SEZ, Tambaram.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Falta Special Economic Zone: Government SEZ Authority in West Bengal under the same SEZ Act framework. Comparable in governance structure, approval process, and infrastructure-leasing business model.
• Sri City SEZ: Integrated private/business SEZ in Andhra Pradesh explicitly named in MEPZ's own materials as a top-50 SDG zone. Closely comparable multi-product export zone competing for the same FDI pipeline as MEPZ.
• Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ): One of India's oldest and largest SEZ authorities, multi-product zone in Gujarat. Comparable as another central-government SEZ authority hosting manufacturing and services units under the same SEZ framework.
• Indore Special Economic Zone (IDSEZ): Government SEZ Authority in Madhya Pradesh hosting pharma, engineering, and IT units. Comparable statutory authority administering the same SEZ scheme as MEPZ.
• Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ): Statutory SEZ Authority in Andhra Pradesh administering SEZ units and in-house customs clearance. Directly comparable in regulatory structure, services offered, and revenue model (lease rentals and approvals).
• Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) Authority: Sister government-administered SEZ Authority under India's SEZ Act 2005, focused on electronics and IT exports in Mumbai. Directly comparable as a statutory SEZ Authority offering unit approvals, customs clearance, and infrastructure to exporters.
• Cochin Special Economic Zone Authority (CSEZ): Government SEZ Authority in Kerala under the same SEZ Act 2005 framework. Operates the same unit approval model, customs bond, and infrastructure mandate as MEPZ, making it a directly comparable statutory authority.
• Noida Special Economic Zone (NSEZ): Government SEZ Authority in Uttar Pradesh with a strong IT/ITeS and gems-and-jewellery tenant base. Directly comparable as a statutory SEZ authority performing unit approvals, customs clearance, and infrastructure administration.

Broad incumbents

• Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA): Large established international free zone in Dubai operating under similar duty-exemption and infrastructure-lease principles. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the FTZ/SEZ category with a global tenant base.
• Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Administration: Historic Chinese SEZ administration governing one of the world's largest export manufacturing zones. Comparable as a government-administered SEZ providing infrastructure and policy support to exporters at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mepz_sez
• Facebookfacebook.com/mepzsez
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mepz-special-economic-zone
• Instagraminstagram.com/mepzchennai?utm_source=qr&igsh=MWtoeGs1MXYyMDl3dQ==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MEPZ Special Economic Zone