Odisha CM lays foundation for CTZ; work begins on WTC in city

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, July 8:

Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of a world class Convention-cum-Trade Zone (CTZ) at the Janata Maidan ground here today. He also announced the commencement of operations of World Trade Center (WTC) in Bhubaneswar.

The CM said the convention centre would enable holding of international conferences, workshops, seminars, exhibitions and trade fairs. The WTC, having both office and commercial spaces, would be built next to the Fortune Tower and would form part of this facility. A 1.7 km sky-walk would connect the CTZ to all the nearby hotels and the WTC, he added.

The project will be implemented in three years’ time with an investment of more than Rs 300 crore, the CM informed. “I understand that such a facility connected through a Sky Walk 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 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.”

Before laying the foundation stone for the CTZ, Patnaik said the convention centre would create an urban landmark, which shall give the city a new identity as a modern metropolis.

Industry Minister Debi Mishra said the state-of-the-art facility, built at an estimated investment of Rs 300 crore, 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 WTC Mumbai, will be the fifth World Trade Centre to be made operational in India. With the setting up of the WTC, Odisha will become the part of ‘One Global Network’, spanning 100 countries and 343 World Trade Centres across the globe.

Among others, MP Dr Prasanna Patsani, Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Industries Secretary Vishal Dev, Executive Director of World Trade Centre, Mumbai Warerkar, attended the function.