Less than 30 per cent of Northern Ireland companies are aware of the recommendations contained in the recent economic review Strategy 2010, produced by a team from the public and private sectors.

In a survey of 102 businesses conducted by Belfast business advisers Grant Thornton, 72 per cent of companies said they had not seen a copy of the summary document.

The companies each had a turnover of more than £1 billion sterling (#1.52 billion) and employed almost 15,000 people in manufacturing, construction and the service sector. Senior partner Mr Eric Bell said the lack of awareness meant Economy Minister Mr John McFall would have to improve the campaign to publicise the strategy.

"There is clearly a need for sustained action to engage local companies to a much greater extent in the debate about the main recommendations of the strategy, particularly in areas such as education and training, and the role of the proposed new super agency that is to be formed by the merger of the IDB, LEDU, and the Industrial Research and Technology Unit," said Mr Bell.

The Grant Thornton survey also showed the growing concern about spiralling transport costs. In a week in which petrol prices rose by around 20p a gallon, more than half the surveyed firms said the latest budget had adversely affected their business, with 87 per cent singling out increasing transport costs.