Northern Ireland's job promotion agency, the Industrial Development Board, has reported a record year for inward investment.

The figures come despite continuing job losses in the textile industry, where 3,000 jobs have been lost over the last 12 months.

The IDB report is the last of its kind, as the agency is to be absorbed into a super-agency with the small business agency, LEDU.

In terms of new employment, this final set of figures is the best ever produced by the IDB.

A total of 7,000 new jobs are promised, 3,000 of these from first time inward investors.

However, the good news has been offset by the difficulties faced by the textile industry in particular.

According to the statistics, over the last two years, 5,000 jobs have gone in the textile sector.

The IDB said that its remaining months in existence would be 'challenging' given the fact that some technology companies are facing a significant downturn in business.