The project of Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre at the capital’s Purbachal got final nod Tuesday, eying to give a permanent solution to venue problems in holding specialised fairs. The approval came at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by its head Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government has now decided to build the exhibition centre on 20 acres of land involving a cost of Tk 796 crore after much delay due to land related problem in its previously proposed site at Tejgaon old airport. Chinese government is providing nearly Tk 625 crore grants for the project and the exhibition centre will be constructed by June 2018 on ‘turn key’ basis which means Chinese government will hand over it to Bangladesh government after completing it with its own supervision. Besides Chinese grants, the government has to bear Tk 138 crore and the implementing agency Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) will contribute Tk 32 crore from its own fund. The exhibition centre will have two superior halls with space for 806 booths (9mx9m) each, apart from the facilities for parking some 1,500 cars, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters after the Ecnec meeting. Besides, there will be a conference room, press centre, trade information centre, reception centre, service room, sub-station and other necessary facilities. Yesterday’s meeting approved a total of nine development projects with a total outlay of Tk 3,368.63 crore. Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk 2,379.31 crore from the national exchequer while Tk 957.19 crore would come as project assistance and organizatios concerned will contribute Taka 32.13 crore, the minister informed. The ECNEC approved another project to procure machinery and equipment from Belarus for the city corporations and pourashavas involving Tk 420.30 crore.
