In the first six months of this year, the country attracted a number of major projects, pushing the average size of each FDI project from US$4.3 million in 2019 to nearly US$6 million in the first half of 2020.

However, there is no clear evidence of global FDI shifting from China to new investment destinations, including Vietnam. It takes 2-3 years to move a factory from one place to another following the careful consideration of all opportunities. 

Samsung Group's factory in Thai Nguyen Province.

Moreover, in the context of global investment activities having been almost paralysed due to Covid-19, the investment promotion activities of multinational corporations have also been interrupted, so investment decisions are very difficult to implement at this time. 

In addition, host countries have also made policies to keep existing foreign investors as well as increase tax and land incentives and reduce costs and procedures to attract new investors; therefore, Vietnam has to face many competitions. 

The country should have a proactive and appropriate investment attraction strategy to attract “some new eggs” in line with the principle of “not putting all your eggs in one basket”.

There are now three trends of global FDI inflow shifting: factory shifting, the transfer of parent company's capital and order shifting. According to economic experts, the movement of factories is very difficult, because companies around the world are struggling due to the pandemic. 

Therefore, an immediate opportunity that Vietnam can seize is the shifting of orders from the corporations which are operating their production in Vietnam. This trend can happen soon and rapidly, so Vietnamese enterprises should prepare all relevant conditions to receive and gradually master the technology needed.

Opportunities always come with challenges. In the long term, Vietnam should promote oriented investment to important investors. The attraction of FDI capital at the expected levels in terms of both quantity and quality depends largely on the preparedness of Vietnam. 

In particular, the most important solution is to improve the capacity of departments and agencies in the localities as well as management boards in order to give advice on how to select investors and projects in line with the new orientation contained in Politburo’s Resolution No.50-NQ/TW on orientations to perfect institutions and policies and to improve the quality and effectiveness of foreign investment cooperation towards 2030.

It is also crucial to review conditions related to land, infrastructure and human resources to be ready to receive shifted investment capital flows. Vietnam should focus on multinational, hi-tech and environmentally friendly corporations.

Hanoi licenses 235 new FDI projects from January-April

Hanoi licensed 235 new foreign-invested projects with a total registered capital of VD324 million in the first four months of 2020.

Vietnam attracts US$12.33 billion worth of FDI in four months

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Vietnam reached US$12.33 billion in the first four months of 2020, equivalent to 84.5% of the value recorded in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Vietnam attracts 8.55 billion USD of FDI in Q1

Foreign investors’ capital into Vietnam has totalled 8.55 billion USD so far this year, 21% less than the same period last year, according to the Department of Foreign Investment of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Bac Giang gives priority to supporting industries in FDI attraction

(BGO)- In recent years, the provincial authorities and sectors in the northern province of Bac Giang has implemented a number of measures to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). In which, the supporting industry projects applying high technologies have been given priority instead of the processing and assembling projects to raise budget revenues and boost the province’s economic growth.

Vietnam attracts 5.33 billion USD in FDI

Vietnam attracted 5.33 billion USD in FDI In January, up 2.8% compared to the same period in 2019.

Source: NDO