BHUBANESWAR: The World Trade Centre Association (WTCA) has proposed to the State Government to start knowledge-based services in the city.
The WTCA had submitted a proposal to the State Government last year for establishment of a centre in the city for promotion of international trade and investment in the State.
Representatives of the World Trade Centre (WTC), Mumbai, made a presentation on the proposed centre at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik at the Secretariat recently.
WTC aims at improving infrastructure and services to promote and develop international trade in the State. The WTC team proposed to start knowledge-based services even before construction of their own building.
The activities include trade information, trade promotion, trade education, trade research, global import and export information, information on innovative technology and manufacturing.
The team also proposed to take up educative programmes in management, executive development and market research. Currently, WTC has 323 centres in 95 countries. It has nearly a million business associates who contribute to more than one third of the world trade.
The World Trade Centre Association, formed in 1968, has been constantly boosting up international trade in different countries. Presently, one such centre is operating in Mumbai since 1970 as a non-profit making organisation promoted by government and private sector initiatives.
The possible areas for establishment of the centre in the city was discussed in the meeting. The WTCA team proposed around 15 acres of land for the centre. The Chief Secretary asked IDCO to identify a suitable location for the centre either in Gangapada or Mancheswar or Samantavihar area.
The proposal for having a state convention centre and WTCA in one building was also discussed. The Chief Secretary advised the Industries Secretary to scrutinise the project proposal of both these centres and examine the viability of clubbing them together. It was decided that IDCO and WTCA will work together for implementation of the project.
Industries Secretary Parag Gupta, CMD, IDCO, Pradeep Kumar Jena, Steel and Mines Secretary DK Singh, Executive Director, WTC, Mumbai, Y.R. Warekar and Vice- Chairman WTC, Mumbai, Sharad P Upasani along with other senior officials participated in discussion.