FDI disbursement up despite decline in capital inflow
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Disbursement of foreign direct investment (FDI) saw a positive yearly increase of 7 percent to nearly 12 billion USD in the first eight months of this year, despite a fall in new FDI registered in Vietnam.
From the beginning of this year to August, the country lured
a total of 22.63 billion USD in FDI, marking a slight decrease of 7 percent
year-on-year, reported the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry
of Planning and Investment.
More than 2,400 new foreign-invested projects were granted
investment licences with a total registered capital of 9.13 billion USD in the
period, up 25 percent in terms of number of projects but down 32 percent in
level of capital over the same period last year.
Meanwhile, nearly 910 existing projects adjusted their
investment capital with a total additional sum of 4 billion USD in the eight
months, representing a yearly increase of 24 percent in the project number but
equivalent to 72 percent of capital seen in last year’s corresponding period.
Notably, foreign capital flow to buy stakes in Vietnamese
companies rose by 80 percent year-on-year to total 9.51 billion USD, according
to the data.
Foreign investors poured most into the manufacturing and
processing sector totalling 15.7 billion USD, or 70 percent of the nation’s
total FDI. It was followed by real estate with 2.32 billion USD or 10 percent
and the wholesale and retail industry with 1.2 billion USD or 5.2 percent.
Among 103 countries and territories investing in Vietnam,
statistics showed that Hong Kong remained to be the largest in the eight-month
period, pouring in nearly 5.63 billion USD, accounting for 25 percent of the
total FDI pledged in the country.
The Republic of Korea came next with 3.48 billion USD, making
up 16 percent of the total FDI and Singapore ranked third with 3.27 billion USD
or equivalent to 15 percent. Mainland China and Japan were the runners-up with 2.78
billion USD and 2.34 billion USD, respectively.
The capital city of Hanoi retained its crown as the top
destination for FDI flow which attracted 5.66 billion USD in the first eight
months, accounting for 25 percent of the total registered capital. HCM City
ranked second with 3.86 billion USD or 17 percent, then the southern province
of Binh Duong with 1.95 billion USD or 9 percent.
As per the data, foreign-invested businesses gained an
eight-month export turnover of 117.9 billion USD while their imports hit 96
billion USD, resulting in a trade surplus of 21.8 billion USD.
So far, there were more than 25,530 operating
foreign-invested projects in Vietnam with capital totalling 353.7 billion USD.
The country’s major sources of FDI were the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore
and Taiwan.
In the next 10 years, Vietnam will place greater emphasis on
selecting investments which employ modern and environmentally friendly
technologies, pursuant to the first decision on foreign direct investment (FDI)
issued by the Politburo this month.
Investments which introduce efficient technologies that produce greater added-value and help integrate the country’s industries into the global supply chain will receive priority.-VNS/VNA