President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam gave CII a 3-point agenda to encourage R&D, design and a strategic approach to new product development at a meeting with R Seshasayee, president, CII, and Lt Gen S S Mehta, director general of CII.

Seshasayee briefed the president Kalam on CII's four missions — 'manufacturing 'innovation', 'knowledge and skills development', 'inclusiveness' and 'sustainability'. He added that CII would focus on re-positioning India as a creative and innovative product developer. This would be complemented by the skills development mission that will leverage e-learning and technology for developing marketable skills.

President Kalam appreciated that CII's targets oriented focus and suggested a three point agenda for CII :

• Encourage R&D: "Show Indian industry, the taste of the fruits of R&D," he said and added "disseminate concrete case studies from the recent past, on a large scale to Indian industry."
• Create a tribe of India designers: Design is crucial for competitive new products and therefore, a "tribe" of chief designers may be generated all over the country in different fields and specially employed by industry, the president suggested.
• Adopt 'design- develop- produce - market' approach: When Indian industry collaborates with a foreign companies, instead of mere technology transfer or licensing, adopt a policy of 'design- develop- produce - market' approach for co-ownership on every item, the president impressed upon his visitors.