Pune gets green light for massive MICE centre

AFTER weathering a long phase of investor apathy and governmental clearances, the Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre (PIECC) has finally been cleared for construction.

Scheduled for completion by 2017, the 97-hectare PIECC will boast a staggering seating capacity of 20,000, with a floor area of 13,000m². It will have seven exhibition centres, a convention centre, a golf course, a five-star hotel, a business complex, shopping malls and residences.

The US$115 million project is developed by the Pimpri-Chinchwad New Town Development Authority. Upon completion, a private company will be appointed to market PIECC at an international level.

PIECC can expect a ready market, as automobile companies such as Land Rover, General Motors, Fiat, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Tata Motors, which have manufacturing bases in the vicinity, currently go to New Delhi for their auto shows and conferences.

Sushil Wadhwa, chairman, Platinum Incentives, said: “In India, the domestic demand for large MICE spaces is high and the sooner the PIECC is functional, the better it will be for the industry. With many international corporations and global associations looking at India to host their events, this will be a huge boost for the MICE trade in India.”