Kovind advocates circular economy, global tech leadership

Kolkata: Former President Ram Nath Kovind called for greater investment in research and innovation on Monday, urging India to shift its focus towards building a circular economy even as the govt continues to back artificial intelligence initiatives.Speaking at the curtain-raiser of MCCI's (Merchant's Chamber of Commerce & Industry) 125th anniversary celebrations, Kovind said nearly 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty over the past decade, adding that India had doubled the size of its economy in recent years.He stressed that MSMEs must transition from being small suppliers to becoming globally competitive and export-oriented players. India, he said, shoild aim to be a digital leader rather than merely a technology adopter, positioning itself as a global hub for data, AI and next-generation technologies."Building a developed India is a collective responsibility. The private sector must lead this endeavour by driving investments and creating employment opportunities," Kovind said.