Washington, Apr 17 (AFP) Divided US lawmakers and officials must unite to forge a long-term economic "blueprint" that brings manufacturing jobs back to the world's largest economy, PepsiCo's chief executive said yesterday.

Indra Nooyi, whom Fortune Magazine has listed as the most powerful businesswoman in the world for several years running, said US President Barack Obama should tap top Democrats and Republicans as well as business leaders to draw up a multi-generational economic plan.

"We need to start somewhere. I think the first step is, create a blueprint for the country," Nooyi told CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" in an interview that aired yesterday.

"I don't think worrying about the re-industrialisation of America is a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It's the country's issue," she added.

"There is an extremely qualified cadre of recently retired CEOs and C-suite (top-level) executives who can all be co-opted to help author this blueprint for the future.