The Hindu Business Line : `Industry must work hard to achieve competitive edge in global market'

The Presdent, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, having a word with the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Arun Jaitley, at the inauguration of India International Trade Fair in the Capital on Friday. --Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Nov. 14

THE President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has called for sharpening India's competitive edge in trade and industry so as catapult the country into the league of developed nations by 2020.

Inaugurating the twenty-third India International Trade Fair (IITF) here today, he said that competitiveness is the single factor, which links the developing country and developed country since both market their products in a competitive way.

IITF fairs are held annually and showcase the country's technological might and industrial supremacy on a range of products.

Terming the dynamics of competitiveness in marketing of products as the law of development, Dr Kalam said that Indian industry should work hard to achieve the competitive edge in the global market.

He identified five areas based on the country's core competence for integrated action to double to growth rate of GDP and realise the vision of developed India, which include among others, agriculture and food processing, infrastructure, education and heathcare, information and communication technology and crucial technologies and strategic industries. He said this year's theme of "Tourism and Small and Medium Industries" could be derived from these five areas, which are inter-related.

Emphasising the pre-eminent position of small scale industries' in export performance, Dr Kalam said that in order to boost exports from this sector, the strategy had to be based on technology upgradation, value addition techniques, credit support and export marketing zones.

In his address, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, said IITF was one of the many activities undertaken by the Government to achieve the objective of becoming a developed country by 2020.

He said that all macro-economic indicators including services were doing well with tourism in particular showing a sharp rise in growth this year. He complimented the IITF organisers for showcasing "Made in India" brand, which has now found full acceptability across the globe.

Mr Jaitley said that the country's exports were doing well despite the hardening of rupee and a global slowdown and hinted at a double-digit export growth this year.

The Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Mr S. Mookherjee, said that small scale sector remains the backbone of the country's economy and the importance of tourism could be not gainsaid in terms of employment generation and earning foreign exchange for the country.

The fortnight-long event provides a picture of the strides Indian industry had made for itself. It also provides an opportunity to overseas companies to display their wares and take from India what it could offer in terms of joint ventures and commercial cooperation.

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