[1] A joint initiative of the ITPO and the Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organisation, which hold 51 and 49 percent stakes, respectively, the Trade Centre was designed by C R Narayan Rao,[2] and was commissioned in January 2001, while the convention centre was commissioned on 1 November 2004.

The Chennai Trade Centre is managed by Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organisation (TNTPO), a joint venture of ITPO and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).

The Chennai Trade Centre is located in Nandambakkam on the arterial Mount-Poonamallee Road.

[6] The special facilities available in the convention centre are sliding partition, infra-red digital interpretation systems, theatrical lighting system, fire protections with sprinklers and smoke detectors, modern audio and video system, meeting rooms, banquet hall, protocol and VIP lounge, business centre, information booth, parking facilities, multiple screen backdrops with cyclorama screen and multiple interpretation facility for 1+5 languages, video projector facility, integrated remote control for stage lightings, video and audio.

Other features of the Trade Centre include a couple of 1,000 kVA transformers with a couple of HT feeders and 100% stand-by generators, 200 lines with Department of Telecom (DoT) exchange for telephone facilities,[7] heavy-duty flooring with a bearing capacity of approximately 5 tonnes per square metre and a sewage treatment plant.

[3] ITPO has acquired an additional 10 acres of land from the Tamil Nadu government for the expansion of the Chennai Trade Centre.

[13][14] Former Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the ₹ 2500 million expansion work of the Chennai Trade Centre on 26 February 2011.

[16] As of 2020, the Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organisation (TNTPO) is in the process of doubling the centre's capacity at a cost of ₹ 2890 million to 40,000 sq m. An additional 9.5 acres of land will be added in the expansion.