North India holds the competitive edge in terms of enterprise and entrepreneurship, say captains of industry from the region.

This opinion was expressed during a debate organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (Northern Region) on the occasion of its 29th annual general meeting here recently.

The motion was supported by 60 per cent of the audience, which comprised CII members, diplomats, senior representatives of industry, students of the Indian Institutes of Technology and academicians.

Opening the debate, Gautam Thapar, vice-chairman and managing director, Ballarpur Industries Ltd, argued that north India was competitive and had the potential to become even more so.

Describing the focus and energy of North Indian entrepreneurs as a definite asset, he pointed out that competitiveness was essentially a mindset. Thapar was elected chairman CII (Northern Region) later in the day.

Sudhir Kapur, managing director and chief executive, Lurgi India, who spoke against the motion, said the North was competitive in matters like power theft and law violation.

He said the region had not been able to create favourable playing infrastructure in literacy and healthcare.

He cited findings from a World Bank report to compare Uttar Pradesh in the North with Maharashtra in the West on various parameters.

Sunil Mittal, vice-chairman and managing director, Bharti Teletech, said the core values of enterprise and initiative and the outstanding work culture made people create employability for themselves in the North.

He said good institutes for suitable manpower and a peaceful industrial climate were the other assets of the region.

However, Eicher Tractor CEO Ramesh C Jain dubbed the North "uncompetitive" with a growth rate of just 5 per cent vis-à-vis the South with over 7 per cent paid-up capital. Technology innovation and quality were other areas where the North was lagging, he said.

Samtel Colour chairman and managing director Satish K Kaura said the key to success in the North was the positive attitude of the people, their drive, initiative and enterprise.

The North, with its successful automobile industry, strong consumer durables base and keen response to improvement programmes had a huge potential to develop its competitiveness and meet any gaps, he added.