HÀ NỘI — Total registered foreign investment into Việt Nam, including newly registered and adjusted capital, plus foreign investors’ contributions and share purchases, hit US$18.24 billion as of April 27, up 32 per cent year-on-year, the Ministry of Finance’s National Statistics Office (NSO) has reported.

Specifically, 1,249 new projects were licensed with a combined registered capital of $12.15 billion, marking a 3.7 per cent annual rise in volume and a 2.2-fold increase in value. Manufacturing and processing dominated, pulling in $8.12 billion, or 66.8 per cent of the total. Electricity, gas, water production and distribution came in second with $2.31 billion (19 per cent), while other sectors drew $1.72 billion (14.2 per cent).

Notably, realised foreign investment in Việt Nam during the first four months was estimated at $7.40 billion, up 9.8 per cent year-on-year, the highest level for the period in the past five years. Of this, the manufacturing and processing sector disbursed $6.12 billion (82.7 per cent), real estate activities $540.5 million (7.3 per cent), and electricity, gas, hot water, steam, and air conditioning production and distribution $270.6 million (3.7 per cent).

The NSO also reported that 316 existing projects registered additional capital of $3.13 billion. The value represents a 51 per cent drop from the same period last year.

Combining newly registered and adjusted capital, total foreign investments into manufacturing and processing reached $10.49 billion, or 68.6 per cent of the total. Electricity, gas, water and air conditioning drew $2.31 billion (15.1 per cent), while other sectors took $2.48 billion (16.3 per cent).

Foreign investors made 976 capital contribution and share purchase deals valued at $2.96 billion, jumping 61.9 per cent year-on-year. Of these, 325 transactions boosted enterprises’ charter capital by $445.13 million, while 651 share acquisitions without capital hikes totaled $2.51 billion.

By sector, wholesale and retail trade, including repair of automobiles, motorcycles and motorbikes, captured $1.89 billion (63.9 per cent). Professional, scientific and technological activities attracted $321 million (10.9 per cent), and other sectors $747 million (25.2 per cent).

Among 53 countries and territories with newly licensed projects in the first four months, Singapore led with $6.05 billion, accounting for 49.8 per cent of the total. It was followed by the Republic of Korea with $4.08 billion (33.6 per cent), China $524.1 million (4.3 per cent), Japan $462 million (3.8 per cent), Hong Kong (China) $329.2 million (2.7 per cent), and the Netherlands $318.5 million (2.6 per cent). — VNA/VNS