Total new and additional FDI capital registered in 2013 reached an estimated 21.6 billion USD, up 54.5 percent over the year before, according to statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Of the amount, 11.5 billion USD has been disbursed, up 9.9 percent against 2012 - a modest figure, according to the ministry. However, it still indicates foreign investors’ confidence in investing in Vietnam , especially given lingering difficulties, say the ministry’s experts.

The processing and manufacturing industry ranks top in attracting foreign investors’ concern with 605 new projects worth more than 16.6 billion USD, accounting for 76.9 percent of the registered capital.

It is followed by electric, water, gas and air conditioner production and distribution with 2.03 billion USD, making up 9.4 percent. Property comes third with 20 new projects worth 951 million USD.

Japan took the lead among investors with 5.747 billion USD, followed by Singapore with 4.38 billion USD, and the Republic of Korea , 4.29 billion USD.

The northern province of Thai Nguyen attracted the most capital with 3.4 billion USD. Thanh Hoa in the central region ranks second with 2.92 billion USD, and third place was secured by the northern city of Hai Phong with 2.6 billion USD.

Several major projects were licensed in the year, including the Japanese-funded Nghi Son Oil Refinery plant in Thanh Hoa which received additional 2.8 billion USD, the Chinese Vinh Tan 1 thermal power plant in the central province of Binh Thuan worth more than 2 billion USD, and the RoK-funded Samsung Electronics Vietnam factory valued at 2 billion USD in Thai Nguyen.

The FDI projects have gained a trade surplus of nearly 14 billion USD over the year and contributed an estimated 88.5 billion USD to the country’s export turnover, up 22.4 percent compared with 2012, accounting for 66.9 percent of the national figure.-VNA