Nigeria, Africa, will enter the international meetings industry with the opening of Calabar International Convention Centre (Calabar ICC) in the third quarter of 2015. Significant not only because of the country’s large population of over 170 million people, but the venue is also projected to add to Nigeria’s continuous economic growth, currently at a GDP of US$510 billion.
Designed by award-winning Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects, the 35,000 square-meter Calabar ICC will be able to accommodate over 4,000 delegates in 17 different venues with as many as 1,800 for plenary sessions and meeting rooms that can be used individually or in combination. The venue will be able to host a range of events from workshops to large audience product launches, press conferences, congresses, exhibitions, meetings of all sizes and conventions.
Preceding its opening, Calabar ICC already has international events booked and an experienced management team in place. This year, it won the bid to host the 6th All Africa Anaesthesia Congress in 2017, which will attract over 1,000 anaesthetists from all over the world.
Calabar ICC is located in a free trade zone (FTZ), exempting exhibitors and conference organizers from paying VAT, WHT and other national and state levied taxes on transactions within the FTZ. An additional benefit is that exhibitors may bring in items duty free, including those in prohibited categories such as furniture and fabrics.
The Centre is part of the remarkable 367 hectare Summit Hills development, which will include a business hotel, international hospital, 18-hole golf course and residential development. A scenic monorail will convey passengers across the Tinapa Lake between the Calabar ICC and the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel.
For more information, visit conventioncentrecalabar.com
