A GROUND breaking ceremony will today mark the official start of work on the £100m conference centre at the Celtic Manor.
The International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales, expected to open for June 2019, will be able to host 5,000 people in its 1,500-seat auditorium.
The 26,000 square metre venue, which is partly funded by the Welsh Government, will also include a 4,000 square metre main hall and 12 meeting rooms.
First minister Carwyn Jones will be among the notable guests at the afternoon ceremony.
Speaking in May, ICC chief executive Ian Edwards said that Wales "hadn't had the capacity to accomodate large-scale conferences until now".
He added: "The ICC will compete with leading venues around the world and, crucially, for the first time, position Wales as a destination at the forefront of business tourism centres."
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