Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has attracted 23.48 billion USD worth of FDI in thefirst 10 months of this year, equal to 80.6 percent of the figure in the sameperiod last year, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has reported.

FromJanuary to October, 2,100 new projects have been licensed with total registeredcapital of 11.66 billion USD, down 32.1 percent in volume and 9.1 percent invalue year-on-year.

Justover 900 projects have increased their capital, by an additional 5.71 billionUSD, down 20.8 percent in project numbers but up 4.4 percent in capital, theministry said.

Itattributed the rise in capital to the 1.38 billion USD added to a petrochemicalcomplex of a Thai investor in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, while theTay Ho Tay project - a mega urban area project close to West Lake in Hanoi and investedby the Republic of Korea (RoK) - increased investment by 774 million USD.

Foreigncompanies have invested 6.11 billion USD during the period through capitalcontributions and share purchases, representing a year-on-year decline of 43.5percent.

TheForeign Investment Agency under the MPI said that about 15.8 billion USD hasbeen disbursed in the first 10 months, equal to 97.5 percent of the figure inthe same period last year.

Processingand manufacturing remains the most attractive sector for foreign investors,drawing in 10.7 billion USD and representing 45.7 percent of committed FDI. Powerproduction and distribution follows, with over 4.8 billion USD (20.5 percent ofthe total), then real estate and wholesale.

Amongthe 109 countries and territories investing in the country, Singapore is thelargest, with 7.51 billion USD, followed by the Republic of Korea (RoK) with3.42 billion USD, and China with 2.17 billion USD.

The MekongDelta province of Bac Lieu retains its position as the largest FDI recipientduring the period, with 4 billion USD, accounting for 17 percent of the total.HCM City ranks second with 3.7 billion USD, or 14.6 percent, followed by Hanoiwith 3.13 billion USD.

Exportsby the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) in the first 10 months areworth 147.97 billion USD, or 97.6 percent of last year’s value. Exportsexcluding crude oil stand at 146.52 billion USD, or 97.8 percent.

Importsby the sector have totalled 117.56 billion USD, or 97 percent of the figure lastyear. The sector therefore posts a trade surplus in the first 10 months of 30.4billion USD including crude oil and nearly 30 billion USD excluding./.