Local businesses invested in 17 new projects abroad over the first two months of the year with a total registered capital of US$25 million, equivalent to 21.7% over the same period from last year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.

Vietnamese financiers have injected money in eight industries, with the majority of outflow capital being poured into the wholesale and retail sectors, accounting for 39.4% of total investment capital, followed by real estate with 21.5% and construction with 20%.

The United States topped the list among 11 recipients of Vietnamese investment, accounting for 26.6% of total investment capital, followed by New Zealand with 23.5%, and Germany with 21.5%.

As of February 20, Vietnam operated 1,716 valid overseas investment projects with a combined capital of nearly US$22.12 billion.

Vietnamese outbound investment mainly focused on the mining and agro-forestry-fisheries industries, making up 31.5% and 15.5%, respectively.

So far, leading destinations for local investors include Laos with 24.8%, Cambodia with 13.2%, and Venezuela with 8.3%.

VOV