Eight-month FDI attraction hits US$19.54 billion
Vietnam attracted US$19.54 billion worth of FDI as of August 20, down 13.7% year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
There were 1,797 new FDI projects licensed, with registered capital totalling US$9.73 billion, down 25.3% in project numbers but up 6.6% in value compared to the same period last year. The increase was attributed to the inclusion of the Bac Lieu LNG-to-power project, with investment capital of US$4 billion, or 41.1% of the total.
Meanwhile, 718 existing projects were permitted to raise their investment by more than US$4.87 billion in total, a 22.2% increase year-on-year.
Foreign investors also outlaid US$4.93 billion on share purchases or capital contributions during the period, down 48.2%.
Capital was channeled into 18 sectors, in which manufacturing and processing took the lead after receiving over US$9.3 billion, or 47.7% of the total. It was followed by power production and distribution, with over US$4 billion, real estate US$2.87 billion, and wholesale and retail US$1.21 billion.
Singapore was the largest source of FDI, with a committed US$6.54 billion, accounting for 33.5% of the total. The Republic of Korea and China followed, with US$2.97 billion and US$1.75 billion, respectively, then Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan (China).
Of the 59 localities receiving FDI in the first eight months of this year, the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu ranked top with US$4 billion. Hanoi was second with US$2.86 billion and HCM City third with US$2.62 billion, followed by Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces and Hai Phong city.