According to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) at the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), as of August 20, total newly registered, added, and paid-in capital for share purchases by foreign investors reached $19.12 billion, equal to 97.9 per cent of the figure in the same period last year.

There were 1,135 new projects granted investment certificates with total registered capital of nearly $11.33 billion, up 16.3 per cent.

Foreign investors poured capital into 18 sectors, of which processing and manufacturing led the way with nearly $9.3 billion, or 48.4 per cent of the total. Electricity production and distribution followed, with nearly $5.5 billion, or 28.7 per cent, then real estate and retail with $1.6 billion and $734 million, respectively.

In terms of destination, the Mekong Delta’s Long An province topped the list with capital of more than $3.6 billion, accounting for 18.9 per cent of the total, including major power projects with up to $3.1 billion, or 85.8 per cent of investment in the province. Ho Chi Minh City ranked second, with nearly $2.2 billion, or 11.4 per cent of the total, followed by southern Binh Duong province with nearly $1.7 billion, or 8.7 per cent, then Can Tho city, Hai Phong city, and Hanoi.

In terms of project numbers, foreign investors still focused on major cities and provinces with convenient infrastructure, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and northern Bac Ninh province.