In a knowledge economy, only creative leadership would drive growth in any sphere of activity, said former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Saturday.
Launching an innovative forum to spread digital knowledge, Digit All, at the 90th anniversary celebration of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Mr. Kalam said that creative leadership was linked to economic development. .
Knowledge economy, he said, was different from industrial economy. It was characterised by creative self-learning, a self-empowered workforce that was capable of multitasking and was knowledge-driven. The key to development of a knowledge society was improvement and equitable distribution of communication tools. Economic development could be achieved through competitiveness and creative leadership.
Mr. Kalam was for India emerging as an economically developed nation rather than a Superpower. This would become possible by concentrating more on designing. About 60 per cent of the cost of a product went into its design and the rest was consumed by production and marketing, he said. He appealed to the people to devote one hour of their time spent in front of television sets to reading and wanted every household to have a library.
Parents should inspire their children to take up reading as a habit. He had a dream of having shops selling organic products across the country and called upon people to encourage organic farming.
Reading out a mission statement for the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Kalam said that it should concentrate on development of agriculture and allied activities to make the State the top food producer. It should focus on education to produce world class manpower.
The chamber could facilitate revival and improvement of primary health centres and enter into an agreement with the local body to convert municipal solid and liquid waste into reusable materials. It should identify waterbodies for desilting and development. It could play a major role in creation of waterways.
Efforts should be made to transform Madurai into a global tourist spot, he said. He also called for efforts to brand Madurai Malli globally.
Senior president of the chamber S. Rethinavelu said that the new forum would strive to create awareness of and spread digital literacy in the region. It would spread digital knowledge among common people, homemakers, small traders, self-employed people, villages, senior citizens and the youth, he said. N. Jegatheesan, president, explained the activities of the eight forums of the chamber.
Published - July 19, 2015 12:00 am IST
