IT'S been a good year for job creation in Kent Thameside according to figures from Locate in Kent, the area's inward investment agency.

The organisation's end of year results for 2001-2002 reveal that it helped secure more than 1,900 new jobs for Kent and Medway in the last 12 months.

Five new businesses coming to the area have created 126 jobs. These have been created through the arrival of laboratory diagnostics company Remel and telecommunications business Altamar Networks (Dirtech Communications), both from the US, and a French IT company.

During the year Locate in Kent exceeded all its targets, securing 28 businesses and 1,913 new jobs for Kent and Medway, well ahead of its job creation target of 1,750. This compares to 1,826 new jobs in the previous year.

Sir Graeme Odgers, chairman of Locate, said: "The year is a major vote of confidence in Kent and Medway. While the international scene for inward investment has been difficult, we have done well and the outlook is positive."

The new businesses arriving in Kent and Medway estimate their relocation will bring an investment of £44 million across the area over the next three years. The year saw businesses from the US, France, Japan and South Korea, as well as the UK, come to Kent and Medway.

Sir Graeme said: "The diversity of companies choosing Kent and Medway reflects the attractiveness of the area as an international business location."

In attracting new jobs, Locate in Kent worked closely with its partners Kent County Council, Medway Council, the Kent Thameside Association, districts councils and the private sector.

Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, said: "Our results show that Kent and Medway are now outperforming many other regions in terms of securing inward investment, and we can rightly claim to be the most effective business location in the UK."