ENGLAND'S North West is one of the UK’s leading regions for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), according to the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Figures released nationally by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) show that the numbers of jobs created and/or safeguarded in the region over the past year have doubled, compared to previous years.

The NorthWest has attracted 155 inward investment projects during 2007/08, an increase of 18 projects on last year and an increase of 64 projects on 2004/05.

These 156 projects have created or safeguarded 14,647 – 7,127 more than the 7,520 jobs in 2006/07.

The collaboration between the NWDA and sub-regional partners, including The Mersey Partnership, MIDAS, Lancashire Economic Partnership, Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance and Cumbria Vision, has contributed to these impressive figures with a spread of new, expansion and acquisition projects from around the world reaching all parts of the region.