As per the norms of the forum, a state has to be represented by its chief minister. But since President's rule has been imposed in the state, Karnataka no longer has a chief minister.

Karnataka had been selected as one of the 12 most creative regions in the world three years ago. The state was chosen because of its strength in the IT sector and also due to the vast human talent that is available in the state.

Karnataka also boasts of a host of technical education institutions along with state-of-the-art medical and engineering colleges. Other regions sharing this unique distinction are Baden-Wurttemberg, Catalunia, Flanders, Lombardy, Maryland, Nord-Pas de Calais, Rhone Alpes, Scotland, Shanghai, Quebec and Qingdao.

The Flanders District of Creativity, a government-backed organisation in Belgium, came up with this concept of regions of excellence or districts of creativity across the world. Kumaraswamy, who was scheduled to attend the meet, will not be able to do so now as he has resigned from his post after his government was reduced to a minority.

According to the organisers, the chief minister would have been in a position to take decisions for the welfare of the state and also speak about its future plans at the event.