Rubbishing concerns about India trying to economically overwhelm its neighbours, Prime Minister Manohan Singh said as the largest member of the Saarc, New Delhi is ready to contribute to regional prosperity in a "non-reciprocal asymmetric manner".
The "unprecedented economic vibrancy" in South Asia has brought with it the opportunity to eliminate poverty and disease, he said, but also pointed to "enormous challenges" like terrorism, climate change and food and energy security.
Asked about concerns about India economically overwhelming its neighbours, Singh termed such ideas as "mindsets of the past, which we have to jettison".
"Saarc is an association that provides an opportunity for its eight member states to walk the path of progress together, to overcome developmental challenges facing the region together, and to seize the opportunities that a rapidly globalising world offers," Singh said in an interview to Himal Southasian magazine, excerpts of which were published in the Daily Mirror here today.
"As the largest country in Saarc, India will contribute to regional prosperity in a non-reciprocal asymmetric manner," the Prime Minister said.
"Rapid economic growth is the essential first step to enable the generation of resources and surpluses that can be used for social and economic development. Having said this, it is equally essential for economic growth to be inclusive...It is incumbent on all of us to create the conditions for such growth and all-round development," Singh said.
Economic development projects that are being undertaken within the Saarc framework, as well as those that will be financed by the newly created Saarc Development Fund, are steps in this direction, he said.