The country experienced a noticeable fall of registered foreign direct investment (FDI) capital, while seeing an increase in the capital disbursement, in the first five months of this year.

During the period, overall FDI poured into the country reached 4.29 billion USD, equalling 78 percent of last year’s figure.

The foreign funds have so far disbursed 4.95 billion USD, increasing 7.6 percent year on year.

The industry of manufactured and processed goods received the largest foreign investment worth 3.15 billion USD with 269 new projects registered. The real estate sector claimed the second place, reeling in 461.5 million USD.

The Republic of Korea still topped 47 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 1.1 billion USD spent in the reviewed period. The UK’s Virgin Islands, Turkey and Japan have come closely behind.

Domestically speaking, Ho Chi Minh City has attracted 983.5 million USD from foreigners, leading others in the five-month FDI. It was followed closely by southern Dong Nai province, with 948.7 million USD, and northern Hai Phong city, with 319.3 million USD.

Regionally, the south-eastern area took the lead in FDI attraction, enjoying 2.29 billion USD, or 53.3 percent of the total registered investment capital, while the Central Highlands got the least amount of FDI, with 17.43 million USD, or 0.4 percent of the total.-VNA