Ministers have praised the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) for helping to boost the regional economy.

Following the publication of new figures that show the NWDA created or safeguarded 17,749 new jobs in the region, and helped 6,748 people to get a job, the government department for business and enterprise said the agency had exceeded expectations.

The figures for 2007-08 also show that the NWDA created or attracted 1,965 new businesses, helped 20,969 businesses to improve their performance and brought in £489 million of investment to regenerate deprived areas.

It also helped 25,805 people develop their workplace skills.

Steven Broomhead, NWDA chief executive, said he is delighted that the agency has exceeded its targets once again.

"This not only reflects the real difference that the agency is making, but also demonstrates how our relationships with public and private partners are helping to boost economic development in the northwest," he stated.

Last month, Midas, Greater Manchester's inward investment agency, revealed that it helped create 3,110 new jobs in the city-region in the fiscal year 2007-08.