Foreign investors disbursed US$10.5 billion in the year to July 20, up 3.8% year on year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

Foreign investors registered to invest US$16.7 billion in fresh projects, in existing projects and in share purchases as of July 20, 2021, equal to 88.9% from a year earlier. All three investment segments contracted in the period.

The country had 1,006 new FDI projects with a total registered capital of US$10.13 billion in the reporting period, down 37.9% in projects but up 7% in value from a year-ago period. Besides, 561 projects added US$4.54 billion to their registered capital, down 9.4% in and 3.7% in value year on year. Foreign investors struck 2,403 share purchase deals valued at US$2.05 billion, down 46.1% in deals and 55.8% in value year on year.

As many as 86 countries and territories invested in Vietnam in the first seven months of the year. Singapore was the biggest investor with US$5.92 billion, accounting for nearly 35.4% of the total foreign investment fund. Japan was the second biggest investor, with US$2.54 billion, accounting for nearly 15.2%, followed by South Korea, with nearly US$2.2 billion, accounting for 13.1%.

Foreign investors invested in 18 industries in Vietnam in the seven months. The processing and manufacturing industry was the biggest recipient with over US$7.9 billion, accounting for 47.2% of the total fund. By locality, Long An was the biggest recipient, followed by Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong.

Accumulatively, by July 20, 2021, Vietnam had 33,967 valid FDI projects with US$399 billion of investment capital. Foreign investors disbursed US$242.2 billion to date, equal to 60.7% of the total valid registered fund.