(MPI) - As of the end of August, the total newly registered capital, adjusted capital and capital contributions and share purchases of foreign investors stood at over 20.52 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 7%.

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Foreign investors registered nearly 12 billion USD in 2,247 new projects, up 27% in capital and 8.5% in the project number as compared to the same time last year.

Meanwhile, 926 projects had their capital added with a total of over 5.7 billion USD, up 4.9% and up 14.8% year-on-year, respectively.

Foreign investors poured about 2.81 billion USD into 2,196 capital contribution and share purchase, down 40.9% and 7.8% as compared with the same period last year, respectively.

Foreign firms invested in 18 out of the 21 economic sectors, of which the processing and manufacturing industry took the lead with approximately 14.17 billion USD, making up 69% of the total investment and up 7.4% from the same period last year.

The real estate came next with a total investment of more than 3.36 billion USD, accounting for 16.4% of the total and increasing 77.6% year-on-year. Followed were wholesale and retail, and professional, scientific and technological activities with 844.9 million USD and nearly 761.9 million USD, respectively.

It is also worth noting that processing and manufacturing was the sector with the largest number of newly-registered projects (34.3%) and number of capital adjustment (66.1%). The wholesale and retail led in the number of capital contribution and share purchases (41.9%).

Among the 94 countries and territories having investment in Vietnam in the eight-month period, Singapore was the largest investor with 6.79 billion USD, making up of 33.1% of the total and growing 75.5% year-on-year. Hong Kong (China) came second with more than 2.4 billion USD, making up 11.7% of the total investment, and 43.7 higher as compared with the same period last year. Followed by Japan, China and South Korea.

Regarding the number of projects, China led in terms of number of newly-registered projects (accounting 29.5%); South Korea topped the list when it comes to turns of capital adjustment (24.5%) and capital contributions and share purchases (25.9%).

The foreign businesses invested in 54 provinces and cities nationwide in the first eight months this year. Bac Ninh led in FDI attraction with 3.47 billion USD, making up 16.9% of the total and 2.94 times higher than the figure of previous year. Quang Ninh ranked second with 1.78 billion USD, accounting 8.7% of the total and 2.3 times higher as compared with the same period last year. Ho Chi Minh ranked third with a total registered capital of about 1.76 billion USD, accounting for 8.6% of the total. Followed by Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ha Noi, Hai Phong and so on.

Ho Chi Minh City was the best performer in attracting new projects (40.4%), adjusted capital (14.6%) and capital contributions and share purchases (70.4%).

As of August 31, disbursement of FDI projects were estimated at about 14.15 billion USD, up 8% year-on-year.

Export, including crude oil, was estimated at 189.8 billion USD, up 13% year-on-year, accounting for 72.2% of export turnover. Export (excluding crude oil) was 188.5 billion USD, an increase of 13.1% from a year earlier, accounting for 71.7% of the country’s export turnover.

Imports of the foreign-invested sector attained nearly 157 billion USD, an increase of 16.9% over the previous period and accounting for 63.8% of the country’s import turnover.

The FDI sector saw a eight-month trade surplus of 32.8 billion USD including crude oil and 31.5 billion USD excluding crude oil, while the domestic sector had a trade deficit of 16.5 billion USD./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment