The president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Owen Lamont, has called on business leaders to stand behind the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble.
Mr Lamont praised Mr Trimble as a man of supreme political courage who had taken more risks than anybody else and demonstrated the essence of leadership.
Speaking at the chamber's annual president's banquet, Mr Lamont told more than 500 business leaders in Belfast that a guaranteed peace would automatically bring prosperity.
"Give us the peace that the people of Northern Ireland are so desperate to see, and we will help you transform the fortunes of this corner of the world. We can and will deliver on our assurances. We'll make the Celtic Tiger look like a pussycat in comparison."