FDI INFLOWS REPORT SOME IMPROVEMENT ON-MONTH

Total foreign direct investment inflows for January-November have narrowed the gap with on-year performance by less than 5 per cent, instead of the two-digit drop seen in previous months.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency, Vietnam counted total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of about $25.1 billion in the first 11 months of the year, equivalent to 95 per cent of the previous year's total.

Of this, $11.5 billion was poured into 1,812 newly licensed projects, up 14.9 per cent on the number of projects last year but a sharp reduction of 18 per cent in value.

Another $9.54 billion was added to 994 projects currently underway, a rise of 23.3 per cent in value and 13.3 per cent in quantity. Overseas investors also poured almost $4.08 billion into around 3,298 share purchase deals, a slight down of 7 per cent over the same period last year.

FDI disbursement climbed well by 15.1 per cent on-year, to around $19.68 billion.

Among the 19 sectors receiving funds in the first 11 months, processing and manufacturing took the lead with almost $15 billion, accounting for 59.5 per cent of total FDI. This was followed by real estate ($4.19 billion), power generation and distribution ($2.26 billion), and sci-tech and professional activities ($1.03 billion).

Singapore led the 107 countries and territories investing in Vietnam in period, with total capital placed of around $5.78 billion, followed by Japan ($4.6 billion) and South Korea ($4.1 billion).

Ho Chi Minh City attracted the highest amount of FDI at just under $3.54 billion, followed by Binh Duong with $3.03 billion and Quang Ninh with $2.19 billion.

The export turnover of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) continued increasing, by 14.8 per cent on-year to about $255.1 billion, including crude oil, making up more than 74 per cent of the country's total export value.

Their import turnover was estimated at $217.5 billion, up 10.2 per cent on-year and accounting for 65.2 per cent of the total.

FIEs' trade surplus was $37.6 billion (including crude oil) in the first 11 months, while local businesses reported a trade deficit of $28.5 billion.

The over 36,100 valid foreign-invested projects accumulated across the country boast total registered capital of more than $437 billion. Their disbursement was about $271.3 billion, equivalent to 62 per cent of the valid registered capital.

Source: VIR