Kathmandu: Former President of India and renowned scientist APJ Abdul Kalam has said investment in food processing and infrastructure development, besides promotion of tourism were key for building Nepal as a peaceful and prosperous country.
He also underlined the need for value based education as the basis for social transformation of Nepal, post abolition of monarchy.
Delivering a lecture on the Dynamics of Societal Transformation attended by dignitaries in Kathmandu yesterday, Kalam said Nepal and India share a common civilisation heritage and have strategic partnership in multiple areas.
"As close neighbours, India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterised by open borders and deep rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture," he pointed out.
Suggesting a five-point formulae for Nepal's speedy development and prosperity, Kalam who was accorded an endearing welcome here, said the Himalayan nation should focus on developing food processing, tourism and information technology.
To increase Nepal's per capita income from present USD 380 to USD 2,000 as envisaged by the government, Nepal should focus on large scale herb plantation for producing drug, promoting eco-tourism and mountain tourism, large-scale commissioning of hydropower plants, development of software and information technology and crating PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) complexes in its 3,000 villages.
