A RECORD level of investment from multinational industry was attracted to Northern Ireland last year, with companies negotiating agreements with the IDB promising to, create 5,678 jobs. The agency's annual report for the year to last March said the year was "the best ever for job creation, job promotion and inward investment".

The IDB chairman, Mr John McGuckian, referring to the uncertainties over the peace process, impact of "recent setbacks". But he said that "we look forward to seeing the benefits to our society which industry will provide through growth in durable employment and a better economic future for all in Northern Ireland".

The IDB report shows that 6,593 jobs were created in its client companies last year. Taking into account job losses of 4,967, the net gain in employment was 1,626. The organisation negotiated 63 industrial projects during the year, involving an anticipated investment of more than £500 million.

The report also pointed to the strong performance of the industrial sector, with exports last year running 21 per cent ahead of 1994 and over £200 million in orders generated by client companies using IDB supported marketing activities.

The IDB chief executive, Mr Bruce Robinson, said the report reflected "the very positive impact" of industry on the North's economy. In the five years to March 1996, manufacturing output had increased by 15.5 per cent, against the comparable UK figure of 5.1 per cent. Manufacturing turnover increased by 8.4 per cent between 1993/94 and 1994/95, he added.

Also, labour productivity in manufacturing in the North has been catching up with comparable UK levels. Northern Ireland also had a strong industrial production performance, he said.

"In the six year period 1990-95, industrial production in Northern Ireland rose by more than 13 per cent compared with 5.9 per cent in the UK and 3.6 per cent in the EU economies overall."

The report also looks at the sectoral performance of industry in the North As in the Republic, the electrical and electronics sector is a main engine of employment growth, recording a 20 per cent rise in employment over the past two years and a 27 per cent rise in exports in 1994/95 alone.

Other strong growth sectors are electrical and optical equipment and other machinery and equipment sectors, where exports sales have doubled over the past three years.

The textiles and clothing seetors had "another challenging year", with companies under pressure from low cost countries and UK customers' competitive pricing. Meanwhile, in the food sector volatility in markets such as beef led to falling employment and sales.