Kolkata, Sep 22 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Wednesday said women empowerment is very important for developing India into a powerful nation.

‘Women empowerment is very important for the development of the nation. If women become powerful, the nation will also become powerful along with them,’ Patil said while addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of the All India Marwari Federation here.

She said just like a car cannot move without wheels, a nation cannot also progress without its two wheels — men and women.

Talking about the business sector, the president said it plays an important role in the prosperity of the country, but it is even more important to maintain ethics in business.

‘…In an era where newer technological innovation is the need of the hour, it is even more important to maintain ethics at workplace,’ she said.

Patil said the characteristic of ‘unity in diversity’ in India has made it unique in the world. ‘In our country we have people of various religions, castes, languages. This uniqueness sets India apart from all other countries,’ she said.