Registered FDI in Vietnam posts highest ever growth of 32%

Registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam reached $36.6 billion this year through December 20, up 32.1% year-on-year, the highest ever growth, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The total registered FDI included registered capital for new projects, additional capital for ongoing projects and capital contribution for stake acquisitions.

About $20.19 billion was pledged for 3,188 new projects, up 62.2% year-on-year in value; $7.88 billion was added to 1,262 existing projects, down 22.1%; and 3,451 capital contribution transactions worth over $8.5 billion were made, up 65.7%.

The disbursement of FDI capital grew 3.5% year-on-year to $23.18 billion, the ministry reported.

Among sectors, manufacturing-processing topped the registered FDI chart with $23.5 billion, or 64.2% of the total, up 39.9% year-on-year.

Other leading sectors were real estate with $4.67 billion, or 12.7% of the total; production and distribution of electricity, water, gas and air conditioning with $2.37 billion; and banking-finance-insurance with $1.56 billion.

Singapore was the biggest investor with $6.8 billion, or 18.6% of the total, up 5.4% year-on-year; followed by Japan with $6.57 billion, up 37.3%; Hong Kong with $4.68 billion, up 110.6%; mainland China with $4.47 billion, up 77.6%; South Korea with $4.4 billion, down 9.8%; and Taiwan with $2.88 billion, up 113.4%.

The leading FDI recipient in the period was Ho Chi Minh City with $5.85 billion, up 48.5% year-on-year. This included $4.29 billion in capital contributions and stake acquisitions, $964.9 million in additional capital for existing projects, and $598.3 million in registered capital for new projects.

Coming second was the northern port city of Hai Phong with $3.26 billion, up 66.2% year-on-year. Other top destinations were also in the north: Quang Ninh province with $3.11 billion, up 31.3%; Bac Giang province with $3.02 billion, up 148.3%; Thai Binh province with $2.79 billion, up 806%; Hanoi with $2.73 billion, up 60.2%; and Bac Ninh province with $1.77 billion, down 21.1%.

As of December 20, Vietnam had 39,140 valid FDI projects with a total registered capital of $468.9 billion. Its FDI disbursement reached $297.2 billion, or 63.4% of the total.