pNEW figures show that Government-assisted investment is set to create and safeguard more than 5,000 North-west jobs.
Last year, 81 Regional Selective Assistance offers were accepted which will bring £158 million in investment to the region.
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "These figures show the true talent and flair of enterprising business men and women working and investing in the North-west.
"We are helping regions like the North-west harness their full potential by putting in place the vital building blocks to create confident, self-reliant and enterprising economies."
Local projects to benefit from Government assistance in 2000/2001 include a £700,000 RSA award to US oil giant Exxon Mobile to establish a pan-European customer service centre in Manchester.
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