Mechanic production at Japanese-invested company in the northern port city of Hai Phong (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The disbursement offoreign direct investment (FDI) in the first five months of 2018 was estimatedat 6.75 billion USD, up 9.8 percent year-on-year.
According to the Foreign Investment Agency underthe Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of May 20, Vietnam granted newinvestment licenses to 1,076 FDI projects with total registered capital ofnearly 4.66 billion USD, up 14.6 percent in volume but down 16.8 percent invalue.
As many as 393 existing projects registered toincrease capital by a total of nearly 2.5 billion USD in January-May, raisingtotal newly-licensed and increased-capital foreign investment to about 7.15billion USD in the five months, an annual decline of 30.8 percent.
The FDI sector has become an important part inVietnam’s economy, contributing about 25 percent to social investment capitaland 20 percent to gross domestic product, according to the Ministry of Planningand Investment.
Close to 58 percent of total FDI capital haswent to the processing and manufacturing industries, helping Vietnam increasethe value of products and make domestic economic sectors more competitive.
In 2017, the FDI sector made up 72 percent oftotal export value and generated about 3.5 million direct jobs and 5 millionindirect jobs.
Vietnam remained an attractive destination forforeign investors in 2017 with total registered FDI capital hitting a record of35.88 billion USD, up 44.4 percent against last year.
The most attractive sectors weremanufacturing-processing industries, electricity production and distributionand real estate.
Among 115 countries and territories investing inVietnam in 2017, Japan topped the list, with 9.11 billion USD, making up 25.4percent of the total.
It was followed by the Republic of Korea with8.49 billion USD or 23.7 percent of the FDI, and Singapore with 5.3 billion USDor 14.8 percent.-VNA
As many as 40 percent of FDI enterprises choose to use commercial arbitration in cases of disputes, rather than going to court, said Phan Trong Dat, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre.
The foreign direct investment (FDI) sector has become an important part in Vietnam’s economy, with remarkable contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.
The quality of Vietnam’s economic growth in 2011-2017 has improved in many aspects with high expansion of gross domestic product (GDP) and increasing labour productivity and incremental capital output ratio (ICOR).
The capital city of Hanoi attracted 860 million USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first five months of 2018, said Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Manh Quyen.
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Mechanic production at Japanese-invested company in the northern port city of Hai Phong (Photo: VNA) 
Source: VNA
