JAN-JUL FDI APPROVALS NEAR US$13 BILLION

Statistics of the ministry showed the country has attracted 1,408 FDI projects with total registered capital of US$8.7 billion in the first seven months, up 31.8% in number and 25.5% in capital against the year-earlier period.

Foreign enterprises have registered an additional US$4.24 billion for 660 operational projects, a rise of 3.5% in volume and a 125.7% increase in value year-on-year. 

Overall, FDI pledges for new and operational projects in the year to July have neared US$13 billion, up a staggering 46.9% over the same period last year.

FDI approvals have shown signs of slowing in July but in the year to date, the picture has been bright. In the first half, the country saw FDI pledges doubling those of the same period last year to over US$11.28 billion.

In January-July, some US$8.55 billion in FDI capital has been disbursed, climbing 15.5% from the year-earlier period.

According to data of the ministry, the processing-manufacturing sector has taken the lead with US$9.1 billion registered for over 1,080 projects.

The real estate sector has come in second with around US$957 million for 35 projects, followed by the science-technology sector with US$596 million for 167 projects, the water supply and waste treatment sector with US$395 million for 10 projects, and the auto and motorbike sector with US$388 million for 320 projects.

FDI businesses have reported export revenue of over US$68.9 billion (including crude oil) in the first seven months, 6.5% higher than in the same period last year. If crude oil is excluded, the respective figures are US$67.544 billion and 8.5%.

The FDI sector has imported US$55.4 billion of goods in the period, down 2.4% year-on-year. In all, FDI enterprises have enjoyed a trade surplus of US$13.5 billion in January-July (crude oil included).

Source: VNEP