Vice Prez lays foundation stone for IECC at Pragati Maidan

New Delhi: The process of transforming the iconic Pragati Maidan into a world class business centre kicked off on Friday, with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laying the foundation stone for the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) and Intergrated Transit Corridor Development project, at a ceremony here.

The upcoming IECC will be equipped with 7,000 seats, a planner hall, a 3,000-seat amphitheatre, two auditoriums, 22 conference rooms and a business center.

Addressing a gathering attended by ministers and government officials, Naidu said, "A growing economy like India needs high quality venues to host government-to-government, business-to-business and business-to-consumer events. Delhi and the National Capital Region do require such modern facilities of international standards to attract major events from across the world."

Talking about territorial invasions in the past, Naidu said "This country, with its over 10,000-year old civilisation, has no record of attacking any country at any time, because we want to live in harmony with all. Before the invasion, 27 per cent of world GDP was from India alone. Let us all remember that. We must all work towards making further progress in crossing 7.5 per cent to double-digit at the earliest."

After a digital walk-through on the IECC was presented, Naidu said that IECC is a "first-of-its-kind mega project, that does not add to traffic congestion, rather will decongest traffic in and around Pragati Maidan."

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu emphasised on the importance of such projects for propelling India into a new trajectory of growth and development.

"India will depict its prominent position in international trade and business through such exhibition halls," adding that the centre will be an exhibit in itself for new India.

Prabhu said that India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) is building new facilities, which will make sure that India is able to depict its true capacity through its exhibition halls and facilities.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the IECC will be an "iconic centre, which will draw visitors for its own beauty and help Delhi assume its rightful role as a Global city, where world leaders and businesses want to stage international events.

LC Goyal, CMD, ITPO said the complex would be a new landmark for the national Capital and a "unique symbol of New India envisioned by the Honourable Prime Minister of India." He added that it was a big day for ITPO, "and it will be a bigger day when we will deliver these projects of national importance with utmost quality by September 2019."