Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday laid foundation stone of a world-class Convention-cum-Trade Zone (CTZ) at the Janata Maidan here and also announced the commencement of operation of the World Trade Centre (WTC) Bhubaneswar.
Patnaik said the CTZ would enable holding international conferences, workshops, seminars, exhibitions and trade fairs. The WTC having office and commercial spaces would be built beside the Fortune Tower and would form part of this facility. A 1.7-km skywalk would connect the CTZ to all the nearby hotels and the WTC, he informed.
The Chief Minister said the project would be implemented in three years with an investment of more than Rs300 crore. “I understand that such a facility connected through a skywalk is a unique and first-of-its-kind concept in India,” he said.
Patnaik stated that the facility would significantly enhance and facilitate trade and commerce in Odisha. “It will act as a catalyst for local business and global organisations to network, explore new joint ventures and collaborations in technology and investment,” he said, adding, “It will help promote entrepreneurship in the State in the domain of export-import, particularly in IT, electronic hardware manufacturing, metal based downstream and ancillary industries, handloom and handicraft, seafood processing industries and other export oriented initiatives.” Patnaik said the convention centre would create an urban landmark which would give the city a new identity as a modern metropolis.
Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said the state-of-the-art facility would accommodate 6,000 delegates in the convention hall having the world’s long projection screen.Notably, the WTC Bhubaneswar, which is being facilitated by the WTC Mumbai, will be the fifth WTC to be operational in India. With the setting up of the WTC, Odisha will become the part of ‘One Global Network’ spanning 100 countries and 343 WTCs across the globe.
Among others, local MP Dr Prasanna Patsani, CS JK Mohapatra, Industries Secretary Vishal Dev, WTC Mumbai Executive Director Warerkar attended the function.