FDI inflows beat four-year record

1,082 projects were granted investment permits in the first four months of 2019, with a combined newly registered capital of US$5.34 billion, making a leap of 50.4 per cent on year.

Statistics from the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment indicate that the total registered, additional, and share capital of foreign investors hit US$14.59 billion in the four - month period, soaring by 81 per cent on year. Of this, US$5.7 billion were disbursed, a year on year hike of 7.5 per cent.

As many as 1,082 projects were granted investment permits, with a combined newly registered capital of US$5.34 billion, making a leap of 50.4 per cent on year. Meanwhile, 1,653 transactions of equity capital and stock purchases were made with the total value of US$5.68 billion, tripling the figure against the same period last year.

In total, there were 395 projects registered, adding US$2.11 billion to their current investment capital.

The additional capital represents 94 per cent of the figure seen in the corresponding period last year.

During the year’s first four months, the FDI sector recorded a trade surplus of US$11.17 billion, including the value of crude exports.

Foreign investors pumped capital into 19 industries. Of note, the processing and manufacturing sector enjoyed an FDI inflow of US$10.5 billion, equivalent to 72 per cent of the total registered capital.

It was followed by the real estate sector which saw an inflow of US$1.1 billion, and wholesales and retail with US$742.7 million.

Hong Kong (China) topped the list of foreign investors in Vietnam during the reviewed period, with total capital of US$4.7 billion, 32.5 per cent of the country’s overall FDI inflows.

The Republic of Korea was in second spot with investment capital of US$1.98 billion, equal to 13.6 per cent of the total FDI, while Singapore was ranked third with an injection of US$1.87 billion, or 12.8 per cent of the total.

Hanoi led nationwide localities in terms of FDI attraction during the four-month period as it enjoyed an inflow of US$4.47 billion, accounting for 30.6 per cent of the total figure.

Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province were ranked second and third with respective FDI inflows of US$2.37 billion and US$1 billion.