Trade body to boost industry in districts

A CII meet in Siliguri. (Passang Yolmo)

TT, Siliguri: Representatives of an apex trade body of the country working in north Bengal have started moving to the districts and are interacting with members of the local business fraternity and prospective investors to boost private investments in the region.

The NB zonal council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is also into the task of identifying local issues and constraints which are impeding investments, particularly in the MSME sector.

"Interactions with the local business fraternity in districts can be instrumental in bringing in investments and can also help in identifying prospective sectors. Further, as a trade body, we can also help resolve issues which are deterring investors from coming forward and opening up new units. That is why the exercise has been initiated and has been proved to be effective so far," said Rajiv Lochan, the chairman of the CII, NB zonal council.

As the CII started working in north Bengal, it was initially more focussed on Siliguri and the surrounding areas. But over the past few years, the trade body is moving into other districts and is even holding meetings with local entrepreneurs in areas like Birpara - a prominent commercial hub in the Dooars - and Islampur, along with the district towns.

"In many of these visits, government officials have accompanied the CII functionaries. Their presence has helped in resolving an array of issues related to power, pollution, land, licenses, tax, revenue and even access to capital," said Naresh Agarwal, a former chairman of CII in north Bengal.