The investment includes $1.47 billion in 93 newly licenced projects and $86 million of additional capital for 14 existing projects. The ministry reported FDI disbursement continued to rise. During the period, about $1.15 billion of FDI has been disbursed, posting a year-on-year increase of 4.5 per cent.

Processing and manufacturing industries topped FDI attraction with registered capital of $1.2 billion in the two-month period, followed by construction with $71.7 million and retail and wholesale, $48.8 million. Ho Chi Minh City led the country in terms of FDI attraction with $1.1 billion, a more than three-fold increase compared to the same period last year ($328.3 million).

According to the chairman of the Ho Chi Minh Municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan, by February 18, 34 foreign-invested projects were granted licences, including a $1 billion solar cell plant in Cu Chi district, while 13 valid projects were permitted to raise capital. The economic hub was followed by Danang city with $180 million of FDI attraction, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, $81.4 million and Dong Nai province, $47.2 million.