Bio products hold key to development: Kalam

SHILLONG: President A P J Abdul Kalam on Saturday said Northeast region can be developed by resorting to value addition in the diverse bio products from the region.
Dr. Kalam while inaugurating the 72nd Annual Session of the National Academy of Sciences at the Northeast Hill University called upon the scientists to link new technologies to natural products and target the $60-billion global market of herbal products.
At present India’s share in this market is just $1 billion while China has $6 billion.
The President urged upon the scientists to evolve new technologies in agriculture and other fields to improve upon the quality of our bio-products.
Dr. Kalam said the country is rich in bio-diversity but poor in technology and products better in technology have very less to do with natural products. Thus, India has a chance to develop suitable technologies to reap economic benefits of our bio-diversity, he said.
Later the President to the students and interacted with them. He spoke about his role models and called upon the student community to dream big so that they have an ambition and turn them into reality.
Earlier, Dr. Mrinal Miri VC Nehu and President National Academy of Sciences Prof. S K Joshi welcomed the President. Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob also spoke at the function. Others who attended the function included Meghalaya CM Dr. F A Khonglam and his other cabinet colleagues.