SCOTTISH Enterprise plans to spend more than £1 billion over the next three years to help boost Scotland's economy and meet a target of creating tens of thousands of jobs.

The publicly funded economic development agency intends to invest £336.4 million across 2013/14, £386.6m during the following 12 months and £297.9m in 2015/16.

The figure for the current year is up from the £302.1m indicated in the last business plan, with Scottish Enterprise saying the rise is due to additional funding being made available to deliver the Renewable Energy Investment fund.

The agency said the latest update has a dual focus on supporting more globally competitive companies and focusing on the growing sectors of Scotland's economy including energy, financial services, food and drink, engineering, tourism and digital media.

By 2015, it hopes to have delivered up to 35,000 jobs through attracting foreign investors to Scotland with up to 12,000 of those high value posts.

Lena Wilson, chief executive, said: "A significant part of our planning for the next three years involves building on the successes we've already achieved and enabling Scottish companies increasingly to see themselves as global players.

"In the face of the worst global recession in more than 20 years, it's imperative that they seek out every possible new opportunity, and that means looking outwith traditional business practices and borders."

In oil and gas, Scottish Enterprise plans to recruit a further 100 companies to its account-managed portfolio during the next three years as well as building stronger relationships with larger businesses.

Work will be done in the food and drink sector to help companies make the most of the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and Homecoming in 2014.

Accelerating technical capabilities across areas, including data capture, informatics and digital health and care is part of the plan for the technology and engineering sector.

A number of initiatives are ongoing in renewables and low carbon technologies, although Scottish Enterprise has set a target to leverage £350 million of additional private investment into offshore technologies.

Growing the company base is seen as a major component of the Life Sciences strategy as well as continuing a strong pipeline of investment by larger companies with the likes of GSK, Life Technologies and Lifescan Scotland having announced £130m of improvements in recent months.

Continuing the rebuilding of the reputation of Scotland's financial services sector forms a cornerstone of plans for that sector with Scottish Enterprise hoping to improve the marketing of the infrastructure, technology and talent pool available here.

The development of industry leaders is a key part of the improving prospects in the tourism sector while encouraging businesses to develop new visitor experiences.

In the creative industries, the focus is on growing businesses involved in interactive media, software and games, TV production and publishing.

Chairman Crawford Gillies called on Scottish firms to start facing the challenges posed by difficult economic conditions more "positively" although he admitted helping businesses constrained by lack of finance remains a key driver for the agency. He added: "There are many Scottish companies who have seen – and who continue to see – real growth in the face of the worst recession in more than 20 years.

"That's something we should be celebrating and emulating."

Separately, Highlands and Islands Enterprise revealed it had invested £80m across the region in 2012/13.

Around £23m was used to support businesses and social enterprises with those investments helping to support 800 jobs.

HIE is also involved in funding infrastructure projects including the roll-out of next generation broadband.