VIETNAM Q1 FDI DOWN 6.6%

HANOI: Vietnam received US$3.85 billion (RM17 billion) in foreign direct investments (FDI) in the first quarter, down 6.6% from a year earlier, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said yesterday. FDI has been a key driver of Vietnam’s economic growth. Companies with FDI account for around 70% of the Southeast Asian country’s exports. FDI pledges – which indicate the size of future FDI disbursements – fell 20.9% in the Jan March period from a year earlier to US$8.55 billion, the ministry said in a statement. – Reuters