(VOV) - In the first half of this year, Vietnam attracted nearly US$10.5 billion in foreign direct investment up 15.9% from a year earlier. According to the Foreign Investment Department of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, changes can be seen in newly registered capital, disbursement, and capital structuring.

Manufacturing and energy account for 90% of the 10 billion USD in newly-registered capital so far this year (Photo: cand.com)

In the reviewed period, Samsung Electronics Vietnam has emerged as the country’s leading foreign investor totaling 3 billion USD, 2 billion USD of which was committed to building a new plant in Yen Binh Industrial Park in Thai Nguyen province. The rest was for capital expansion of a project in Bac Ninh province.

Samsung Bac Ninh is one of 217 projects registered for increased investment capital so far this year, boosting expansion capital for FDI enterprises 35.7% against the same period last year. This achievement can be attributed to a favorable business environment, according to economist Nguyen Minh Phong. Phong explains “the increase of registered capital is a positive sign that investors are seeing a better environment and intend to do business in Vietnam for a long time.”

So far there have been 554 new FDI projects with total registered capital of more than US$5.81 billion, up 3.7% compared to the same period last year. Manufacturing and energy account for 90% of the 10 billion USD in newly-registered capital.  Bui Quang Vinh, Minister of Planning and Investment, says “in the first six months of this year, foreign invested enterprises contributed 66% of the country’s export turnover and generated 2 million jobs. This shows that foreign investment plays a key role in the national economy on top of helping us to acquire new technologies and new management method.”

Foreign investment is an indispensable part of Vietnam’s economy. FDI makes up one fourth of the country’s total investment and contributes 60% of Vietnam’s export value.