Northern Ireland's main job creation and business support agency has failed to achieve its core aims despite spending £1bn, according to a new report.
The study recommends a major shake up in how the Stormont executive supports its business sector.
An independent review panel, chaired by University of Ulster head Prof Richard Barnett, delivered a damming critique of Invest NI's performance since it was set up in 2002.
The report says the quango, with a staff of 600 and a chief executive who earns about £180,000 per year, failed to achieve its goal of raising productivity and wage levels.
While its main aim was attracting multi-nationals to Northern Ireland, it spent less than 10% of its budget doing so.
A third of its spending went to just ten companies.
The report calls for major changes to how the power-sharing government backs the business sector.
It also recommends the creation of a single economy unit at Stormont, with the merging of two existing departments.
