Highland Council has called for the north’s economic development agency to be retained amid a Scottish Government review.
The intervention was made after it was revealed that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) could be merged with Scottish Enterprise.
The move sparked concern from MSPs and Highland Council has now added its voice to calls for the agency to be retained.
The local authority said it has a “good working partnership” with HIE, which has helped lead to developments such as the City Region Deal, Inverness Campus and the Caithness and Sutherland Regeneration Partnership
The council’s planning development and infrastructure chairwoman Audrey Sinclair said: “It is critical to retain a dedicated regional economic development focus in the Highlands, especially given the nature of the challenges facing the Highlands and islands, particularly in relation to its unique geography, remoteness and small dispersed communities and economies.
“Reviews can be helpful in identifying positive opportunities for change and there is scope to do things differently.
“The review offers the opportunity to deepen partnerships through embedding a joint approach and creating a ‘Team Highland’ culture and way of operating between HIE, the Highland Council and other strategic partners.
“In relation to economic and community development, while there is already significant collaboration, there are a number of areas which could be strengthened, including matching public resources to local priorities.”
The Scottish Government said that the outcome of the Enterprise and Skills Review will be set out in due course.
