Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly investing overseas,
especially in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Russia, with their investment
reaching US$2.65 billion in the first quarter. 
Of the total, US$720.7 million came from 22 newly-licensed projects and the remainder was additional capital from existing projects, according to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).
Notably, the Russia-Vietnam Oil and Gas Joint Venture (Rusvietpetro) decided to increase its investment in a Russia project by US$1.4 billion, and the Vietnam Chemical Corporation (Vinachem) added US$518.9 million to its salt mining project in Laos.
Most Vietnamese firms are keen on mineral exploration, information and communications, accommodation and restaurant services.
They registered to invest in 12 countries and territories in the first quarter of this year. By March 20, 2013, they poured investment in 742 projects with a total registered capitalisation of US$15.5 billion.
So far, Vietnamese businesses have invested in 59 countries and territories, with 227 projects worth over US$4.2 billion in Laos, and 129 projects worth US$2.7 billion in Cambodia.
About US$3.8 billion has been disbursed, including US$2.9 billion in the oil and gas industry, nearly US$500 million in rubber plantation, US$400 million in hydro-electric power plants, and US$249 million in the telecom sector.
(VOV)
