Shillong: President A P J Abdul Kalam said on October 25 that North Eastern region could achieve economic prosperity by commercially exploiting its rich bio-diversity in a proper manner.

The people of the North East needed to be aware of the vast potential of the region's bio-diversity and utilise that in a proper manner, the President said. That, he said, could put the region on the road to prosperity.

Inaugurating the 72nd annual session of the Academy of Sciences and symposium on biodiversity at North Eastern Hill University campus near Shillong, Kalam noted that country's three universities had been working for the hills' agriculture.

He hoped that the inventions of the scientists would reach the cultivators for their benefit.

Pointing to the vast potential of ginger cultivations of the region, he asked the scientists to develop the medicinal component of it as the Indian ginger has 12 medicinal components out of 18.

He advised the state governments of the area to save their bio-diversity and other natural resources as the region has been considered as a single economic power.

As the people of the region were very simple, honest and hardworking, Kalam hoped that their economy would fast improve through proper utilisation of their natural resources.

Kalam also said Indian technology and bio-diversity would take its economy ahead of many other nations in near future.

The President observed that China currently has a turnover of $ 6 billion through bio-diversity business compared to India's $ 1 billion, out of the world's $ 62 billion business.

PTI