Naveen inaugurates World Trade Centre

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today inaugurated the World Trade Centre and laid the foundation for Rs 300 crore convention-cum-trade zone in the city.
"This will be the fifth World Trade Centre to be operationalised in India and is being facilitated by World Trade Centre, Mumbai," Patnaik told the gathering.
With the setting up of the World Trade Centre, Bhubaneswar will become part of the 'One Global Network' spanning 100 countries and 343 WTCs across the globe, he said.
World Trade Centre will act as a catalyst for local business and global organisations to network, explore new joint ventures and collaborations in the technology and investment, the CM said.

It is also expected to 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.
"I hope that this would be a platform where the industry, academia and government would converge to stimulate trade and investment opportunities under the umbrella of World Trade Centre," the chief minister said.

The proposed convention centre, which will cost an estimated Rs 300 crore, will enable holding of international conferences, workshops, seminars, exhibitions and trade fairs. A World Trade Centre having office and commercial spaces will be built as part of this facility.

A 1.7 km sky-walk will connect the convention centre to all the nearby hotels and the WTC. The project will be implemented in three years time.
"I understand that such a facility connected through a sky walk is a unique and first of its kind concept in India," Patnaik said.
The facility here will be at par with the leading cities in India in the MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition) sector and would significantly enhance and facilitate trade and commerce in Odisha, he said.
Bhubaneswar, he said, was steadily growing as a knowledge centre and an attractive hub in higher education and health care."The convention-cum-trade zone will add another feather to its cap.