Invest Northern Ireland provided £129 million (€186 million) of support to businesses in the region in the 12 months to the end of March, stimulating more than £560 million of investment in the local economy and generating more than £200 million a year in additional salaries.

This equates to the creation of more than nine new businesses every day, according to Leslie Morrison, the group's chief executive.

Invest Northern Ireland, which is tasked with turning the region into a high-growth economy driven by innovation and enterprise, provided financial support to more than 1,500 businesses in the 12-month period. This compares with £134 million worth of support in the prior year, which levered £497 million of investment commitments, according to the latest figures for the group.

Over the past four years, Invest Northern Ireland has supported more than £2 billion worth of investment in the region.

"We have put in an excellent performance in what are quite challenging circumstances," said Mr Morrison, adding that all parts of the business at least met if not exceeded their targets. "The momentum has been building and I don't see any fall-off in activity."

Mr Morrison was particularly pleased with the group's ability to attract substantial foreign direct investment and said that the increased competition from developing economies such as India and China should be seen as an opportunity.

During the 12-month period, Invest Northern Ireland provided support for 3,475 new businesses, creating about 5,000 new jobs.

It also secured £103 million worth of investment from more than 300 locally owned clients, as well as external commitments for 31 new projects in the region.