The Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency also reported that more than 1,150 new foreign-invested projects worth $7.63 billion were licensed during the period, representing a 17.8-per cent year-on-year decrease.

The biggest projects included Samsung Display Bac Ninh Company’s $1-billion plant; the $225-million Dai An Viet Nam-Canadian International Hospital; and Texhong Group of China’s $215-million Texhong Hai Ha Industrial Park.

Meanwhile, authorities allowed 418 operating projects to add $3.54 billion to their investments, and this represents a 37.9-per cent year-on-year decrease.

One of the bright spots was the modest 3.2-per cent increase in FDI disbursement to $8.9 billion. The manufacturing and processing sector absorbed the largest share of FDI, reaching $7.7 billion or 98.3 per cent of the nation’s total registered capital. This was followed by estate trading industries, which attracted $1.2 billion, and construction industries, which lured $612.1 million.

From January to September, South Korea was the country’s leading FDI source with $3.55 billion, or 31.8 per cent of total registered FDI, followed by Hong Kong with $1.52 billion or 13.6 per cent, Japan with $1.43 billion or 12.9 per cent, and Singapore with $1.07 billion or 9.6 per cent.

Among 50 localities, northern Bac Ninh Province, HCM City, and the southern provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Duong, as well as Ha Noi and the northern port city of Hai Phong, were the most attractive destinations for foreign investors.