Another pioneering move by SKIL was to promote the very first Special Economic Zone in the private sector at Mumbai, at a distance of 08 kms from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Maharashtra. SKIL conceptualized the setting up of the first private sector SEZ in the country, originally christened Maha Mumbai SEZ (MMSEZ).

Subsequently, SKIL also won the global bid floated by CIDCO for the development of another SEZ known as Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (NMSEZ) in the adjacent area. The NMSEZ, separated by a creek, is located just 300 metres away from the MMSEZ.

SKIL’s unique and holistic approach was to implement both projects through joint development and marketing. This joint development would pave the way for creating a mega world-class SEZ project adjacent to the business hub of India.

The SEZ, to be developed with the support of the State Government of Maharashtra, is located to the south east of the thriving metropolis of Mumbai, the commercial capital of India.  

SKIL had envisaged the SEZ as being developed over an area of approximately 10,000 hectares, of which the first phase would see the development of approximately 2,500 hectares.  

SKIL visualised the SEZ as an industrial township that would promote and provide a hassle-free industrial and commercial business environment, created for business entities by a business entity. Besides this, the SEZ would also cater for the best of global living, learning, healthcare and recreation standards.  

Connectivity via rail, road, international port, and airport is readily available. In addition, the proposed Trans Harbour Link across the sea would connect South Mumbai to the Greater Mumbai region across a 22.5kms two-way four lane highway, thereby reducing travel time to around 30 minutes. 

The Mumbai SEZ was envisaged by SKIL as being developed in the integrated infrastructure format for which JTC, Singapore has been assigned the task or master planning.  

The Mumbai SEZ would be, as Ministry of Commerce puts it, a totally “delineated deemed foreign territory for the purposes of duties and tariffs”. It would offer tremendous business opportunities for international as well as indigenous industrial users, commercial users and for warehousing & distribution facilities. Government of India and the State Government of Maharashtra, through their SEZ policies and Acts provide fiscal and non-fiscal benefits for users and service providers besides infrastructure developers/co-developers.  

In 2005, SKIL and Reliance Group, India reached an understanding whereby the Reliance Group would spearhead the development of the SEZ at Mumbai, with SKIL providing all the requisite support wherever necessary, to support the vision of creating India’s first mega SEZ.