Industry, agriculture must work together: Pratibha

President Pratibha Patil receiving a copy of the compendium on business delegations titled "Engaging the World" (from left) ASSOCHAM Secretary General D. S. Rawat, CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee and FICCI Secretary General Rajiv Kumar at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: V. Sudershan

“Only then can the fruits of development reach every citizen”

Industry and agriculture should engage each other for enhanced economic growth in the country, President Pratibha Patil said here on Monday. The rural economy should also show signs of growth, she said, adding that the fruits of development could reach every citizen only if industry and agriculture worked together.

The President expressed concern over farmers committing suicide, saying that they were also entrepreneurs like industrialists, as they take risks when they sow their crops. Moreover, they are instrumental in feeding the nation, she said.

Ms. Patil was speaking at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after being presented with a compendium on business delegations, titled ‘Engaging the World', by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), FICCI the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and ASSOCHAM the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The compendium is a reference guide for the work and achievements of the business delegations that accompanied Ms. Patil on her visits to 21 nations between 2008 and 2012.

“The business delegations accompanying the President on her state visits enhanced the level of bilateral engagements on these visits by including the economic agenda. Issues of concern to Indian industries were raised. Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) were signed and in general trade and investment prospects of Indian industry were addressed,” said an official of the President's Office.

On her travels abroad, the President said she had been apprehensive about how the initiative would unfold. Looking back, the exercise proved satisfactory. She said she was happy with the efforts put in by the Chambers, the Ministry of External Affairs and officials of the President's Secretariat.

By taking along business delegations, they got adequate attention and facilities for engagement from the political level and officials in the countries visited. In many cases, the heads of state themselves evinced keen interest and personally met delegation members. The President said that whenever she met the host head of state, she made it a point to emphasise the necessity for engagement and mutual benefits involved, the official said.

Original Article Here