HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam saw about US$21.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) disbursement during the first ten months of this year, an 8.8 per cent increase from the same period last year and the highest 10-month level recorded over the past five years, reported the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The manufacturing and processing sector continued to dominate, with $17.7 billion, or 83 per cent of the total disbursement. It was followed by real estate with $1.5 billion (7 per cent), and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioner production and distribution with $671.9 million (3.2 per cent).

During January–October, total registered FDI — including newly registered capital, additional capital, and capital contributions or share purchases by foreign investors — reached $31.52 billion as of October 31, up 15.6 per cent year-on-year.

Of the total sum, 3,321 new projects were licensed with $14.07 billion in newly registered capital, up 21.1 per cent in project number but down 7.6 per cent in value year-on-year. The manufacturing and processing industry made up the largest share with nearly $8 billion (56.7 per cent), followed by real estate ($2.8 billion, 19.5 per cent) and other sectors ($3.4 billion, 23.8 per cent).

Meanwhile, 1,206 existing projects registered additional investment worth $12.11 billion, marking a robust 45 per cent increase over the same period last year.

Combining new and additional registered capital, investment in the manufacturing and processing sector totalled $16.4 billion (62.5 per cent), while real estate received $5.3 billion (20.3 per cent), and the remainders $4.5 billion (17.2 per cent).

Capital contributions and share purchases by foreign investors reached $5.3 billion, up 45.1 per cent year-on-year, across 2,918 transactions. Of this, $1.9 billion (34.9 per cent) went to manufacturing and processing, $1.1 billion (20.8 per cent) to professional, scientific and technological activities, and $2.4 billion (44.3 per cent) to other sectors.

Among the 87 countries and territories granted new investment licences in Việt Nam during the period, Singapore was the largest with $3.8 billion (26.7 per cent), followed by China with $3.2 billion (22.8 per cent), Hong Kong (China) with $1.4 billion (9.8 per cent), and Japan with $1.2 billion (8.3 per cent).

By locality, Bắc Ninh province led in attracting new FDI with over $1.7 billion, followed by HCM (over $1.6 billion) and Hải Phòng city (nearly $1.4 billion), according to the NSO. — VNA/VNS