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Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) - the public agency which played a huge part in boosting the region's economy.

Launched as the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) in 1965 to tackle ‘the Highland problem’ -  a downward spiral of unemployment, depopulation and economic woes.

The body says it has helped increase the overall population of the region has by over 20% while creating new jobs.

The University of the Highlands and Islands has become established while the region has benefited from significant investment in infrastructure, fishfarming and telecoms.

But the body has been criticised for focusing too much on investing in Inverness and the Moray Firth district at the expense of island areas.

HIE chairman Professor Lorne Crerar said the agency helped a "remarkable transformation" so the region is recognised for ambitious entrepreneurship, innovation and exporting as well as leading the way in community ownership of land and assets

For the future, "we need to continue investing in facilities such as broadband technology, development sites and premises such as the Inverness Campus and European Marine Energy Centre, and transport connections.

UK business ambassador Brian Wilson believes the HIDB brought about great change in the fortunes of the region, particularly Inverness..

 

But the communities on the edge are still losing population and the development agency has "never really found the answer to that."

 

He says the drive now needs to be assisting the islands and more rural areas of the Highlands and islands.

 

 

 

Development agency celebrates 50 years  

 

1 November 2015