Brief on foreign direct investment of January 2018

Accumulated to January 20th, 2018, the country has 24,941 valid projects with a total registered capital of 320.3 billion USD. The accumulated realized capital of foreign direct investment projects was estimated at 173.9 billion USD, equivalent to 54.2% of total valid registered capital.

In January 2018 separately, total value of newly and additionally registered capital, capital contributed and shares purchased by foreign investors was 1.255 billion USD, equaling 75.9% of the same period in 2017. Realized capital of foreign direct investment projects was estimated at 1.05 billion USD, up 10.5% over the same period in 2017

I. Foreign investment in Vietnam 

1. FDI accumulation until January 2018 

Up to January 20th, 2018, the foreign investors have invested in 19 out of 21 branches in the national economic classification system, in which, processing, manufacturing industrial field accounted for the highest proportion with 187.1 billion USD, making up 58.4% of total investment, followed by real estate business with 53.2 billion USD (accounting for 16.6% of total investment capital), production and distribution of electricity, water and gas with 20.8 billion USD (making up 6.5% of total registered investment capital).

There were 125 countries and territories having valid investment projects in Vietnam. Korea ranked first with a total registered capital of 58.1 billion USD (accounting for 18.1% of total investment capital). Japan ranked second with 49.46 billion USD (capturing 15.4% of total investment), followed by Singapore and Taiwan, British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong.

FDI has been present in 63 provinces and cities in the whole country, in which Ho Chi Minh City continued to rank first in FDI attraction with 44 billion USD (making up 13.7% of the total investment capital), followed by Binh Duong with 30.4 billion USD (accounting for 9.5% of total investment), Hanoi with 27.67 billion USD (capturing 8.6% of total investment), Hanoi with 27.37 billion USD (accounting for 8.5% of total investment).

2. FDI attraction in January 2018

2.1 Performance

Realized capital

As of January 20th, 2018, foreign direct investment projects were estimated to disburse 1.05 billion USD, up 10.5% as compared to the same period in 2017.

Export and import

Export: Export of foreign investment sector (including crude oil) was 13.59 billion USD, up 33.7% as compared to the same period in 2017 and accounting for 71.5% of total export turnover. Export excluding crude oil was 13.4 billion USD, up 34.7% as compared to the same period in 2017 and accounting for 70.5% of total export turnover.

Import: Import of FDI sector was 7.8 billion USD, up 2% as compared to the same period in 2017 and capturing nearly 58.4% of total import turnover. Generally, the trade surplus of FDI sector was 5.79 billion USD including crude oil and 5.6 billion USD excluding crude oil.

2.2 Granting of investment certificate

As of January 20th, 2018, the whole country had 166 new projects granted investment certificate with total registered capital of 442.59 million USD, equaling 35.6% compared to the same period last year and 61 times of projects adjusted capital with total additionally registered capital of 456.78 million USD, up 155% over the same period in 2017. Newly registered investment capital in January 2018 decreased significantly as compared to same period in 2017 because in January 2017, there are many licensed projects with capital from 100 USD to nearly 300 million USD (accounting for over 71% of the total newly registered capital in January 2017), meanwhile in January 2018 no new projects over 100 million was licenced.

Also in January 2018, the whole country had 415 times of capital contribution and share purchase by foreign investors with a total value of the capital contribution of 356.04 million USD, up 54.7% as compared to same period of 2017. This includes 212 times of capital contribution and share purchase that increased enterprise chartered capital with the value of the capital contribution of 199.15 million USD and 203 times of capital contribution and share purchase in which foreign investors bought secondhand shares from domestic holders without increasing charter capital with the total value of capital contribution of 156.89 million USD.

Generally in January 2018, total newly and additionally registered capital and capital contributed and shares purchase by foreign investors was 1.255 billion USD, equaling 75.9% of the same period of 2017.

By investment field

In January 2018, 19 fields were invested by foreign investors, in which, processing and manufacturing industry attracted much attention from foreign investors with the total capital approximately 909 million USD, accounting for 72.4% of the total registered capital in January 2018. Wholesale and retail field ranked second with total investment capital of 90 million USD, accounting for 7.2% of total registered investment capital. Real estate business ranked third with total registered investment capital of 77.6 million UDS, capturing 6.2% of total registered investment capital.

By investors

In January 2018, there were 45 countries and territories having investment projects in Vietnam. South Korea ranks first with total investment capital of 355.6 million USD, making up 28.3% of total investment capital; Singapore ranked second with total registered capital of 199 million USD, accounting for 15.8% of total investment capital into Vietnam; Hong Kong ranked third with a total registered capital of 147.4 million USD, capturing 11.7% of total investment capital.

By investment area

In January 2018, 59 provinces and cities were invested by foreign investors, in which Ho Chi Minh City attracted the most of FDI with a total registered capital of 306.2 million USD, capturing 24.4 % of total investment capital. Hai Duong ranked second with a total registered capital of 181.3 million USD, accounting for 14.4% of total investment capital. Binh Duong ranked third with a total registered capital of 168.1 million USD, accounting for 13.4% of total investment capital.

Some large projects granted invest certificate in January 2018 are:

- Kefico Vietnam Co., Ltd., licensed in 2009 with the aim of producing spare and auxiliary parts for motor vehicles in Hai Duong, adjusted to increase investment capital by 120 million USD.

- Vina Cell Technology Co., Ltd projects, licensed in 2016 with the goal of producing the solar battery in Bac Giang province increased investment capital by 100 million USD.

- Nam Dinh Ramatex Textile and Garment Factory project with total investment capital of 80 million USD invested by Singaporean investors in Nam Dinh.

- Jotun Paint Vietnam Co., Ltd. project, licensed on January 19, 2018, with total investment capital of 70 million USD invested by Norway investors in Ho Chi Minh city.

II. Vietnam's investment abroad

In January 2018, the whole country had 6 projects granted certificates of investment registration abroad with a total investment of 6.46 million USD from Vietnam. In which, there are 3 projects in the wholesale and retail field with a total investment capital of 5.17 million USD, accounting for 80% of total investment capital. The other three projects are in the processing, manufacturing, accommodation industry and professional science and technology activities. The countries received investments from Vietnam in January 2018 are Canada, Cambodia, New Zealand, Germany, Belize, Myanmar./.

- Ministry of Planning and Investment -