ISAS Briefs

India's draft national manufacturing policy proposes National Manufacturing and Investment Zones (NMIZs) as instruments for revitalising manufacturing. The policy addresses major challenges for Indian manufacturing such as inflexible labour laws, multiple procedures and environment-friendly production. However, NMIZs pose several questions with respect to their relationship with Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Unless states are consulted actively, the paper argues, NMIZs might be as controversial as SEZs.