HIE to invest nearly £200m in 3 years

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is to invest nearly £200 million across the region over the next three years – a move it claims will create or retain up to 900 jobs.

The spending announced yesterday includes rolling out superfast broadband and helping key economic sectors to grow.

The development agency’s operating plan details how the money will be invested between April 2012 and March 2015. It plans to work on four priorities – supporting business and social enterprise; strengthening communities and “fragile” areas; developing growth sectors and creating conditions for a competitive and low carbon region.

Most of the money is from the Scottish Government, with £15m from the European Union.