COMPETITIVENESS VITAL TO BECOME
DEVELOPED NATION BY 2020: KALAM
PRESIDENT
INAUGURATES INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2003
The President of
India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam has said that competitiveness is
vital to transform India into developed nation by 2020. Competitiveness
is the one factor, which connects the developing country and developed
country since both market their products in a competitive way,
he said, while inaugurating the 23rd edition of India
International Trade Fair 2003 (IITF) here today. Terming this
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. Shri
Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Law
& Justice, Shri S. B. Mookherjee, Union Minister of State
for Commerce & Industry, Shri Dipak Chatterjee, Commerce Secretary
and Shri Ashok Jha, Chairman & Managing Director, India Trade
Promotion Organisation (ITPO) were present at the inaugural function
along with diplomats of various countries, senior officials, representatives
of trade and industries and participants of the trade fair. This
year’s fair has a marked focus on its themes, ‘Tourism and Promoting
Exports of Small and Medium Enterprises’.
Dr. Kalam pointed
out five areas based on India’s core competence for integrated
action to double the growth rate of GDP and realise the Vision
of Developed India, namely: Agriculture and food processing, Infrastructure,
Education and healthcare, Information and communication technology
and Crucial technologies and strategic industries. He said this
year’s theme of IITF ‘Tourism and Small and medium scale industries’
could be derived from these five areas, which are closely inter-related.
Dr. Kalam indicated that tourism in India has great potential
and said that a constructive partnership between the private and
public sectors has to be established to achieve growth in this
sector. Thrust is required to be given for inland water navigation,
hotels, communication, entertainment and tourist promotion and
there is a need to start a ‘Welcome Tourist’ movement, he added.
Emphasising the importance of small scale sector in India’s present
export performance, he highlighted the fact that direct exports
from the small scale sector accounts for 35% of country’s exports.
To enhance these exports from small scale sector the strategy
has to be based on technology upgradation, value addition techniques,
credit support and export marketing zones, he said.
In his address, Shri
Jaitley said that India International Trade Fair was one of the
many activities undertaken by the government to achieve the objective
of becoming a developed nation by 2020. He said that all macro-economic
indicators including services sector are doing well and said that
tourism in particular has shown sharp rise in growth this year.
He highlighted the fact that India’s exports are doing well despite
the hardening of rupee and global slowdown and stressed that country’s
export growth this year are on double-digit growth track. Given
the large coastline, different religions, diversity in culture
and nature, India has huge potential in the tourism sector and
said the small-scale sector is one of the largest employment generating
sectors in India. Shri Jaitley said the IITF is showcasing ‘Made
in India’ brand, which has now found full accessibility across
the globe. Shri Mookherjee, in his address said that small sector
is the backbone of the country’s economy and the importance of
tourism cannot be underestimated in terms of employment generation
and said that it was very appropriate to focus on these two sectors
in the trade fair.
Showcasing the achievements
of India and other countries over a broad sectoral canvas, IITF
2003 (14-27 November), being organised by ITPO, is one of the
biggest annual congregations of businessmen, technocrats, entrepreneurs
and users in the world. Over 7000 firms from India and overseas
are taking part in the event. These include leading overseas companies
from Bhutan, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Kenya,
Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan, Sudan, Thailand,
Turkey and UAE. The fair unveils amazing strides of achievements
in the form of special display including Techmart, Buildtech,
Saras, the Indian Handicraft show, Good living and more comprising
a wide range of products and services including engineering, jute,
rubber etc.
