Thomas Friedman calls for revolution in energy technologies

Mumbai: Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the bestseller The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman, feels India''s IT revolution must be backed by a similar progress in energy technologies to maximise the benefits of globalisation.

"The IT revolution should be backed by an energy technology (ET) revolution. Then only can the world be truly flat and green," the US author and noted media columnist said in the first Penguin annual lecture.

Friedman''s next book, The New Green is Red, White and Blue, focuses on energy revolution. He said rich countries need to develop green energy technologies, and share it with developing countries like India and China where they will be mass produced and consumed.

Friedman also said the most important economic competition today is not between countries or companies but between an individual and his imagination.