Setting the prescription for a 10 per cent annual economic growth rate, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Friday asked the Indian industry to sharpen its competitive edge to enhance its share in the global market.
Inaugurating the 23rd India International Trade Fair at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Kalam said: "To double the GDP growth from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, there should be the right type of management system and tapping of the vast tourism sector, including in the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep."
On India achieving the developed country status by 2020, Kalam said that, on the one hand, there was fierce competition among several developing countries to accelerate the growth rate, while on the other, the developed countries would strive to retain their position.
Kalam said with its inherent advantage of sea connectivity and a strong growth of information technology, India should also lay greater emphasis on competitiveness -- besides self-sufficiency in technology -- to accelerate the growth rate.
He propagated the 'three dimensions of competitiveness', namely, quality, cost-effectiveness and just-in-time supply' as a mantra for global success.
The President said that the 'dynamics of development' showed there were several developing countries and only eight developed countries in the fray to enhance their economic growth.
India would require to improve its marketing skills to achieve the developed country status, he said, adding that the small- and medium-scale industries would also need to improve on the quality and cost-competitiveness.
In the direction of employment generation, Kalam said there was a need to improve hospitality attitude and stressed on a 'welcome tourists movement' under which the tourists should be taken good care of till their departure.
In this regard, he said India should take advantage of its vast coastline and tap the tourist potential in Andaman and Nicobar and other coastal areas.
Kalam said the private sector had a crucial role to play in the promotion of tourism.
On the growth potential of small scale sector, Kalam said the country's small scale industries had made rapid strides in the past two decades and the number of such industries had grown from 0.78 million in 1980 to 3.5 million units in 2000.
He said technology upgradation in the small scale and other tiny sectors, which were the engine of economic and export growth, should be accelerated to compete in the international market.
The President identified six areas -- agriculture, food processing, education, health, IT and infrastructure -- as key to growth of the economy.
Ashok Jha, chairman and managing director of India Trade Promotion Organisation, the organisers of the trade fair, said that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure the success of the fair.
