Siliguri, June 30: A major investors’ meet that had been planned by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)’s North Bengal Zonal Council towards the end of June has been postponed for at least two months.

Officially, the reason being given is that the Bengal chief minister, whom the CII wanted to inaugurate the conclave, could not give a date. But sources within the council said the prevailing situation in the region following the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha agitation was responsible for the postponement.

At the third annual general meeting of the council in April, its new chairman G.S. Hora, while outlining the programmes in the year ahead, had said the CII would organise a North Bengal Conclave which would be attended by big names from the industry and the corporate field of the country.

“Various business opportunities in the region, including aspects relating to tea tourism, agro industries, food processing, information technology, health and education would have been taken up at the conclave,” Hora said today.

“But now the meet has had to be postponed and we hope that it will be held in the later part of August, subject to a date approved by the chief minister,” the chairman said.

According to the original proposal, based on a suggestion by the Bengal government, the conclave was to have been held in Calcutta, on the assumption that the number of participants would be higher in the state capital.

“But we insisted that since the North Bengal Council had been specially formed for the industrial development of the region, the meet should ideally be held here,” said council vice-chairman Ramgopal Jajodia.

“But that was before all the agitation and bandhs. We still want to hold the conclave here and are hopeful that there will be a solution to the present situation soon. However, if that does not happen, we are keeping our options open about holding the meet in Calcutta,” Jajodia said.

Hora said despite the hill strife, export of tea to Russia, facilitated by the CII zonal council, was going ahead according to schedule.