Over US$12 billion in FDI Vietnam has so far this year attracted US$12.181 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), with more than half pouring in newly-licensed projects. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), the country has granted licenses to 980 FDI projects during the reviewed period, representing a total capitalisation of over US$7.256 billion. The processing and manufacturing industries led with more than US$8,507 billion in newly and additionally registered FDI capital, accounting for over 65 percent of the total FDI figure. Real estate ranked second, attracting US$1,350 million in nine new projects. Five projects expanded their investment scale with an additional US$494.36 million, bringing total FDI in the real estate sector to US$1,845 million. Other sectors that attract a large volume of FDI include information and communications, retail, wholesale, logistics, accommodation services, health care, science and technology, education and training, agro-forestry and fisheries, entertainment, electronics, mineral mining, water supply, waste treatment, financing, and insurance. Japan remains Vietnam’s biggest foreign investor with 247 newly registered projects worth US$3,931 million and 103 expanded projects worth US$1,120 million. Singapore comes in second , followed by the Republic of Korea, Samoa, British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China), Malaysia, Germany, Thailand, the US, and France. The southern province of Binh Duong is the top FDI destination (US$2.287 billion), followed by Ho Chi Minh City (US$1.145 billion). Source: VOV