Trade fair plans take off

KOLKATA: Finally, the much awaited trade fair complex near the Park Circus connector is set to take off, with the Union commerce ministry having sanctioned Rs 7 crore for the project.
The construction of the complex, also to host the book fair and other annual fairs, will begin with the formation of a joint venture company — West Bengal Trade Promotion Organisation — by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation, a central agency.
Claiming that this company would seek both foreign and domestic private investment for this project, state industry secretary Sabyasachi Sen said on Monday that the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce had already expressed interest.
The sprawling complex, coming up on a 25-acre land owned by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation adjacent to the Science City and ITC Sonar Bangla hotel off the EM Bypass, will also house the craft village.
With exhibition halls, conference rooms, restaurants and cafetarias, the state government hopes to use the complex as another showpiece to impress investors and promote export as well.
“The location is excellent as five-star hotels like the Hyatt and Sonar Bangla are in the vicinity while the Science City offers parking space and convention halls,� stated Sen.
The lease between the craft village, KMC and WBTPO will be finalised shortly.
According to him, the industry ministry has already given Rs 5 crore to the state from the Assistance to States for the Development of Export-related Infrastructure scheme while the ITPO has received another Rs 2 crore for the same.
The Centre has also invested a lot on enhancing border trade like building roads, and truck terminals at Petrapole, Hili and Mahdipur under the Aside scheme.
Since the state is the land route for export from Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, infrastructure for 13 other border roads and rail tracks will come up under the same scheme, added Sen.
New venue
• A JV between WBIDC and Indian Trade Promotion Organisation to build the complex •The union commerce ministry has sanctioned Rs 7 crore for the project •To be located on a 25-acre plot of land owned by the KMC off the EM Bypass, it will hold the annual book fair and other trade fairs