Patna, Jan 19 (IANS) President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Friday emphatically stated that development of Bihar was linked to that of India and called upon non-resident Indians (NRIs) to come forward in a big way to participate in the state's development.

"India's development is related with the development of Bihar. The time has come for Bihar to get transformed into a developed state before 2015. We need the best of minds to be the partners in this great journey," he said at the inauguration of 'The Global Meet For A Resurgent Bihar' here.

The president said: "NRIs should participate in the development of Bihar and India."

"I am sure your mission to make the aspirations and dreams of people of Bihar a reality will definitely come true," Kalam told the audience of 500 people, including NRIs, economists, technocrats and investors from around the world at the three-day meet.

He said he had visited Bihar a number of times and it "has always been a source of happiness for me to meet the Bihar youth and Bihar farmers. Bihar indeed, has a great capital of knowledge, capital of skills and above all capital of hard work. This capital has spread in many parts of the country and also many countries in our planet".

He also stressed on the need to focus on agriculture and agro food processing, education and entrepreneurship.

Agriculture can become the main base for a developed Bihar, Kalam stated, adding that Bihar had the potential for turning around and would become a developed state.

He said: "People of Bihar have the inherent capability and capacity to face any challenge and situation. They have the potential to take on the challenge of development."

Bihar has resources like water, agriculture, human resource and intellect, which Kalam said could change the face of the state. He called for infrastructure development, employment generation and an increase in the per capita income and lowering of the numbers of people living below the poverty line.

Kalam recalled that last year he had addressed a joint session of the state legislature in which he had suggested 10 missions with a potential to make Bihar economically prosperous.

"All of you will agree with me that Bihar has the potential to achieve all these aspects better than other states in the country, if only all of you decide to work in synchronization for the development of the state as the prime focus," he said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also addressed the meet, organised jointly by Bihartimes.com and the New Delhi-based Institute of Human Development with support from the state government.