'Guj contribution to industrial growth is unique'

Vadodara, Mar 31: Former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam today praised the Modi government and Gujarat entrepreneurs for their ''unique'' contribution in continuously promoting the industrial sector of the state. ''Gujarat has taken the initiative of setting a target of 14 per cent industrial growth rate during the eleventh plan period which will substantially increase the percapita income of the state,'' Dr Kalam said while giving away Federation of Gujarat Industries (FGI) awards of excellence in nine different categories.

He also highly appreciated the government's focus on infrastructure development and commissioning of 51 SEZs which he said will further enhance the industrial activity, attract foreign investments and generate more employment opportunities.

Stating that there was an important core competence within Gujarat, Dr Kalam urged the federation to take the lead for creation of a Global Business Knowledge Sharing Platform by connecting all the micro, small and medium industries located in Gujarat and other parts of the country so that they can produce more, and best of products can emanate through collective wisdom with enhanced research facilities.

Referring to the Global Innovation Report-2007, the former president said India which ranked 23 in innovation index and 48 in the global competitiveness index, must move up to the tenth and fifth positions respectively within the next five years with the combined efforts of researchers, technologists, production specialists and business leaders.

Dr Kalam also stressed on the need for working together innovatively to increase the GDP growth rate for realising inclusive growth for more than one billion people of the country and hoped that by 2020 India can emerge as a prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism and peaceful country.

Dr Kalam, who arrived here late this evening on a two-day visit to Gujarat, is scheduled to visit the Railway Staff College (RSC) and Alembic Limited in the city tomorrow.

UNI