Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday praised the creativity and spirit of adventure in Keralites.
"I am sure you would have heard the story of how the first astronaut on the moon found a kaapi kada (coffee shop) run by a Malayali."
Keralites have made their mark at home and abroad, he said.
"Your record in human development has encouraged economists like K N Raj and Amartya Sen to refer to the Kerala model of development where social development has preceded economic development," Singh added.
He said the Centre's National Common Minimum Programme derives inspiration from the state's record in human development.
"It is the your ability to benefit from globalisation that has enabled the state's economy to prosper," said Singh.
At the end of the PM's two-day visit to the state, he laid the foundation stone for the petrochemical complex of Stage II of the National Thermal Power Corporation plant at Kayamkulam.
