17/12/2003

NI economy grows as business income increases

The Northern Ireland economy continues to grow thanks to income from local businesses, new figures released today showed.

Provisional results from the 2002 Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (NIABI) show that income from businesses (Gross Value Added) have increased by 4% or some £484 million in 2002 compared to the previous year.

Commenting on the figures, Enterprise Minister, Ian Pearson said: "In 2002 the value of Northern Ireland business income after payment for goods and services increased to some £12.7 billion in the face of strong downward pressures internationally.

"While we have not been immune to such pressures it is encouraging to note that the Northern Ireland economy has been able to maintain progress in such difficult conditions.”

The NIABI provides the first estimates for 2002 of the level of mainly business based economic activity across some two-thirds of the Northern Ireland economy.

The survey includes most of the production, construction, distribution and service sectors, while excluding public sector activities for the most part.

(MB)

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