Registered FDI in Vietnam jumps 40% to $2.36 bln in Jan, China leads new projects

After 2023 with record high growth, registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam remained robust in January, rising 40.2% year-on-year to $2.36 billion as of January 20.

The surge was attributable to a 24.2% year-on-year increase in new projects and several new large-scaled investments licensed, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said in its monthly report.

The January amount includes $2.01 billion committed for 190 newly-licensed projects, up 66.9% year-on-year in value; $235.4 million added to 75 operational projects, down 23.1% in value; and $116.5 million registered for 174 capital contribution transactions, down 33.1% in value.

Foreign investors disbursed $1.48 billion in the year to January 20, up 9.6% year-on-year.

Real estate was the most appealing sector in the month, attracting $1.27 billion in registered FDI, or 53.9% of the total, doubling year-on-year. It was followed by manufacturing-processing, science-technology, and wholesale-retail sale.

A new real estate project worth $662 million helped Hanoi surge to the top among 35 FDI recipients. Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in the south came next with $282 million, followed by Bac Giang in the north with $198 million.

Among 39 countries and territories investing in Vietnam this month, Singapore took the lead with $1.41 billion, followed by Japan with $297 million and Samoa with $182 million.

Regarding the number of new projects, mainland China was at the top with 59. South Korea led the number of capital additions and capital contribution transactions.

As of January 20, Vietnam had 39,377 valid FDI projects with total registered capital of $471.9 billion. Its FDI disbursement reached $298.66 billion, or 63.3% of the committed amount.