Statistics showed that there were 712 overseas Vietnamese projects as of December last year with total registered capital of $12.4 billion in 60 countries and territories. Total disbursed capital was at $3.8 billion.

In 2012 alone, 75 new investment projects were licensed with total registered capital of $1.3 billion in 28 countries and territories. Last year’s total disbursed capital reached $1.2 billion, representing an increase of 28 per cent over 2011.

According to the agency’s director Do Nhat Hoang, overseas investments had been largely successful, gaining a profit of $430 million to date.

Projects were mainly focused on mining, telecommunications and agriculture, with increased investments in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Hoang added that they had helped to create jobs for thousands of Vietnamese workers as well as local people.

According to the agency, Vietnamese enterprises abroad still faced difficulties such as insufficient legal frameworks and slow implementation of many projects.

The agency asked for a legal framework to support enterprises on overseas investment to be completed, together with specific policies for investment in Laos and Cambodia.