NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday sought to woo businessmen from Saarc countries in a joint venture against terrorism. Delivering inaugural address at the Saarc Business Leaders Conclave, attended by Pakistani representatives among others, he said: “Our business community has a vital stake in regional security. It is only in peace and stability that we can build the foundation necessary for social development and economic growth in the region.”

Dr Singh said that no country could insulate itself from the consequences of poverty, disease and terrorism in any neighbouring country.

“We then have a collective stake in ensuring peace and security here because no investors will come to this region if there is no assurance of peace and security. To imagine that any one of us can pursue what economists call ‘beggar-thy-neighbour’ policies and thereby prosper is to delude oneself.”