"Competitiveness alone can make the country a developed nation, with three keys to success -- cost effectiveness, quality products, timely delivery and availability," he said after inaugurating INTEC-2005, an International Industrial Trade Fair, at the Codissia complex in Coimbatore.
Speaking on 'competitiveness to nation development', Kalam urged entrepreneurs to manufacture quality products, which he said could be achieved through constant innovation and the drive to remain competitive.
These measures, he felt, could help India climb up in the global innovative capacity index from its current 44th position.
He pointed out that India stands sixth in scientific and technology index, with a large proportion of innovative ideas coming from the private sector.
"Competitiveness needs coming together of private-public sector, research and development and participation in forming clusters, which in turn will lead to political, economic and social development of the nation", Kalam said.