City & Industrial Development Corporation of
Maharashtra (CIDCO) has appointed Arthur Andersen as consultant for preparing a
bidding methodology and business plan to find a strategic partner for setting
up the Navi Mumbai special economic zone (SEZ). The SEZ, which would entail an
investment of Rs.2,200 crore in the first phase, would be spread over 4,377
hectares of land. The SEZ is expected to invite foreign direct investment to
the tune of $15 billion over a period of 8-10 years.
Arthur Andersen has formed a consortium
with Crisil and Chesterton Meghraj Property Consultants for this purpose. The
consultants would be required to submit their findings by 15 October 2001.
The consultants’ job would include
analysing the demand for SEZs in India and the Asia Pacific region, major
issues faced by SEZs in India and the nature of competition that the Navi
Mumbai SEZ may face from other SEZs. The consultants would also be required to
prepare a 10-year business plan for the SEZ and implementation strategy for
various phases of the project. Further, the consultants would also have to
develop a financing plan for the project.
Meanwhile, in a related development, CIDCO
has invited expressions of interest from international urban planners to
prepare a Master Plan for the Zone.
For details, kindly visit CIDCO’s site : www.cidcoindia.com