Vietnam attracted more than US$20 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) between January and mid-December, a 6.5-percent annual decrease, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.

The country licensed 1,588 new projects to foreign investors with registered capital of $15.64 billion, up 9.6 percent annually, and allowed 594 underway projects to boost funding worth a total $4.58 billion, down 37.6 percent annually.

Although the total funding decreased compared to last year, it posted a 19-percent increase from the set target ($17 billion), thanks to some multi-billion projects such as three projects invested by Samsung and a project by Hong Kong's Dewan International.

Among 60 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, South Korea is the top investor with $7.32 billion, followed by Hong Kong with $3 billion and Singapore with 2.79 billion.

The top areas that attracted FDI this year are process engineering, real estate and construction.

The Foreign Investment Agency said foreign investors have disbursed $12.35 billion as of December 15, up 7.4 percent annually and up 2.9 percent from the set target.

Thanh Nien News

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