A business development agency was today urged to halt the decline in manufacturing jobs in Northern Ireland.
The DUP warned the North was becoming increasingly reliant on public sector and service jobs after textile giant Adria confirmed it is to shed 185 jobs.
The company announced yesterday that it will scale down its operation in Strabane, Co Tyrone, by the end of the year - its second major redundancy announcement in four months.
Senior Adria management are meeting union officials today as a 90-day consultation period gets under way.
But DUP economy spokesman councillor Robin Newton criticised Invest Northern Ireland for failing to respond to the company's announcement.
The East Belfast MLA said: "The silence from the organisation as 200 skilled manufacturing jobs are lost to the Northern Ireland economy is the same response we have become used to.
"Skilled manufacturing jobs are melting away, like snow off the proverbial ditch, and Northern Ireland is growing increasingly dependent on public sector and service jobs.
"The economy cannot continue with this trend and expect to be competitive and economically healthy." Mr Newton said more had to be done to help companies, such as Adria.
Sinn Féin said the local community, which lost 175 jobs in March, should be given an economic aid package similar to that introduced in the West Midlands after the collapse of MG Rover.