Giving boost to India’s economic progress, PM Modi lays foundation for world-class convention centre

New Delhi, September 21: With laying the foundation for India International Convention and Expo Center, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that the center will reflect India's economic progress, rich cultural heritage, and our consciousness towards environmental protection.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that it is a part of the government's vision which provides importance to world-class infrastructure and ease of doing business. The Prime Minister recounted how the Union Government has started a nation's development. In this context, he mentioned the longest tunnel, the longest gas pipeline, the largest mobile manufacturing unit, and electricity to every household in many others. He said this is the skill, scale, and speed of New India.

PM Modi also said that this project will emerge as a center of energy for 80 crore youth. It is not just a convention and expo center, but a vibrant center for domestic and international business. It will be like a mini city within Delhi, there'll be convention halls, expo halls, meeting halls, hotels, market, offices and several other facilities within the campus.

Highlighting the various initiatives by the central government PM Modi said, “The biggest indirect tax reform work in the form of GST, work of running the biggest mass movement in the form of clean India, and now this government has done the task of undertaking the country's and the world's biggest healthcare scheme - Ayushman Bharat."

PM Modi said that many countries across the world have developed elaborate capacities to hold conferences. He further said that a country progresses through strong organizational and institutional capacities, which are the results of years of effort. He said that for this, it is important to take decisions at the right time and implement them without delay.

In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned the recent decision on the merger of Public Sector Banks. He said this was about two and a half decades, but not implemented. However, he asserted that this government does not shy away from taking decisions in the national interest. He said that all-round progress has happened in the last four years only. He asserted that this process of taking interest in the best interests of the people He said that despite challenges, the economy is on a firm footing. Mentioning "ease of doing business", he said, "The government is now working towards the effort."

With a budget of around Rs 26,000 crore, the IICC will be built over an area of 221 acres and will accommodate up to 11,000 persons. The construction is planned over two phases, with phase one planned to be completed by December 2019, and phase two by December 2024.