Vietnam poured a combined 20 billion USD in new and additional capitalabroad as of this April, according to the Ministry of Planning andInvestment’s Overseas Investment Agency.

Laos andCambodia remain major markets attracting Vietnam’s outbound investment,with a respective 3.9 billion USD (26 percent) and 3.2 billion USD (22percent).

Vietnam also channeled 968 million USDinto 18 projects in Russia, 1.8 billion USD in two projects inVenezuela, and 1.3 billion USD in six projects in Peru.

Other Vietnamese capital markets include Malaysia, Myanmar and the US.

Mining is Vietnam’s predominant field overseas with 11 projects worth5.1 billion USD, equivalent to 11.5 percent of the projects and 34percent of the total capital.

It is followed byagro-forestry-fisheries with 2.7 billion USD in 125 projects, accountingfor a respective 18 percent and 13 percent. Others include information,communications, electricity, real estate, finance-banking andinsurance.

Aside from State-owned corporationsViettel, Vinamilk and Vietnam Rubber Group, the private sector andsmall- and medium-sized enterprises are eyeing foreign markets.

Last year, 12.5 percent of licensed outbound projects were fromindividuals while 76 percent were from private businesses, including thehigh-profile BKAV, Hoa Sen and Kym Dan, among others.-VNA