Major players from hospitality, retail, construction and other sectors have held wide-ranging discussions with the DMICDC on investment and partnership opportunities in the Rs 26,000 crore International Exhibition-Cum-Convention Centre (ECC) proposed to be built in Dwarka, New Delhi. At a series of stakeholders’ consultation meetings chaired by DMICDC CEO Alkesh Sharma, industry representatives were briefed on the plans and their views sought on the project that envisages creation of a world-class integrated smart business district that will be the largest mixed use area in Delhi. The meeting was attended by the top executives of JW Marriott, Taj Hotels, The Leela, Hilton, Asian Hotels West, Experion, Developer Group, Reliance Industries and Phoenix Mills, among others. Expected to be commissioned by July 2019, the ECC will be among South East Asia’s biggest convention centres, sprawled over 90 hectares of land in Sector 25, Dwarka, with overall built-up space of 1.07 million sq. metres. The anchor ECC facilities including exhibition halls, convention centre, banquet halls and a multi-purpose arena will have 428,000 sq. metres of space and will be developed, along with the trunk infrastructure for the district, by the Government of India. The remainder will be mixed use development including hotels, food & beverage (F&B) outlets, office space, commercial and retail services and other leisure facilities, all of which are proposed to be developed in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, opening up massive investment opportunities. The ECC is estimated to generate up to 5,00,000 direct and indirect jobs. In line with government focus on Green India and Swachh Bharat, the entire district has been planned to get LEED Platinum certification. DDA has transferred the land to the Department of Industrial Promotion and Policy (DIPP) and key approvals on the project Master Plan, height and urban design have been received from relevant departments. The remaining clearances are expected over the coming two-three months. The Government is also planning to create a Special Purpose Vehicle to manage the entire project.