Foreign investment pledges to Vietnam hit US$18.47 billion in H1

Vietnam attracted US$18.47 billion in foreign direct investment in the first half of 2019, down 9.2% compared with the same period last year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.

Manufacturing remains the most attractive sector to foreign investors in the first half of 2019. (Photo: VOV)
Manufacturing remains the most attractive sector to foreign investors in the first half of 2019. (Photo: VOV)

As of June 25, investment licenses have been granted to 1,723 new projects, worth a total of US$7.41 billion, while an additional US$2.94 billion was committed to 628 pre-existing projects.

Foreign investors also poured in an extra US$8.12 billion in capital contributions and share purchases.

During the January-June period, an estimated US$9.1 billion was disbursed, up nearly 8% year on year.

Manufacturing remained the most attractive sector to foreign investors with US$13.15 billion, accounting for 71.2% of total foreign investment pledges, while property trading came second with US$1.32 billion.

Hong Kong (China) was the largest investors among the 95 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with US$5.3 billion, followed by the Republic of Korea and China, which poured in US$2.73 billion and US$2.29 billion, respectively.

A breakdown of localities showed that Hanoi was the largest recipient of foreign investment, attracting more than US$4.87 billion. Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province came second and third with US$3.09 billion and US$1.37 billion, respectively.