by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Around 3,000 jobs were created or kept in the county last year by the efforts of Kent and Medway's "world-class" inward investment agency.

Despite one of the worst recessions on record, Locate in Kent helped 82 companies invest in the county in the year to March 31, its highest ever tally and eight per cent up on the previous year.

But in line with national trends, while projects were more numerous each one tended to involve fewer jobs.

The number of direct jobs that LiK helped to create totalled 1,492.

About half the rest were a combination of indirect jobs and those that LiK influenced employers to retain in the county rather than shift elsewhere.

Speaking at a reception at Leeds Castle last night, Sir Brandon Gough, LiK chairman, said that the new financial year had got off to a good start.

"We've already been able to deliver 500 new jobs in the first few months in successfully completed projects," he said.

"Despite the challenging global financial situation, Locate in Kent has still assisted more companies than ever before."

A third of the investments and half the number of new jobs were in knowledge-based industries.

Others were in manufacturing, financial services or public services.

Ten overseas companies also set up in the county, mostly from France and Germany but also from New Zealand.

Some 22 per cent of new projects are from foreign-owned companies.

Kent County Council leader Paul Carter attended the reception.

He said: "Kent is most certainly open for business.

"We've had a reasonable year, Locate in Kent has done an extraordinary job and we will continue in County Hall to do everything we can to support all businesses big and small, all shapes and sizes to grow and succeed in the Kent economy."

Meanwhile, LiK's performance was recently graded "world class" by GDP Global in an international benchmarking exercise.