A report from Forfás, Ireland’s policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation, has suggested that the computer games industry could create an additional 2,500 new jobs in the country in the next two years, reports the Irish Times.

The report suggested digital-distribution and online games are the main areas in which Ireland should focus on growth.

With the global games sector expected to increase its worth by nearly 40% over the next four years, founder of US games developer PopCap Games, Jason Kapalka, told the Irish Times: “Given the scale of the possibilities, it doesn’t seem that crazy.”

Irish head of government, Enda Kenny, speaking at the publication of the research, said: “The potential is phenomenal.”

Last week a study conducted by TIGA, the UK’s trade association for independent computer games developers, argued Britain must do more to prevent key industry talent moving abroad, with 18% of companies reported employees leaving UK firms to work abroad.

Over 2,000 Irish workers are already directly employed in the games sector, up from around 400 in 2004.