The Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) reported the country granted licenses to 1,050 new projects worth US$13.077 billion in October alone, a 79% improvement from a year earlier.

Additional capitalisation licenses worth US$6.158 billion were approved for 393 existing projects, up 42.5%.

FDI projects disbursed US$9.58 billion in 10 months, up 6.4%, according to the FIA.

The FDI sector’s exports (including crude oil) were estimated at US$72.085 billion during the reviewed period, up 22% and accounting for 66.7% of total export value.

Foreign businesses have invested in 18 fields, with processing and manufacturing industries taking the lead, pouring US$14.923 billion into 494 new projects. Investment in electricity, gas, and water supply and air conditioner manufacturing stood at US$2.031 billion, followed by real estate with US$588.23 million.

Japan leads Vietnam’s 52 country and territory investors, with capitalisation totaling US$4.842 billion. The Republic of Korea’s US$4.019 billion ranks it second, and Singapore’s US$3.985 billion rounds out the top three.

Thai Nguyen province attracted the most FDI capital (US$3.408 billion), followed by Thanh Hoa (US$2.921 billion) and Binh Thuan (US$2.03 billion).