Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese firms poured 546.7 million USD intooverseas projects in the first five months of 2021, more than triple the figureof the same period last year.

Of the sum, 144 million USD was from 21 newly-licensed projects, down 11.3 percentyear-on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Meanwhile, 403.2 million USD was pumped into nine existing projects, surging22-fold year-on-year, the ministry said.

A major part of the capital outflow - 271 million USD - was poured into thescience-technology sector, accounting for 49.5 percent of the total. Thewholesale and retail sector came next with $148.4 million or 27 percent,following by the agro-forestry-fisheries sector and auxiliary services.

Fifteen countries received investment from Vietnam from January to May with theUS the top receiver with 303 million USD, holding the lion’s share of 55.4 percent.It was followed by Cambodia with 89.1 million USD or 16.3 percent. Next wereCanada and France with 32.1 million USD and 32 million USD, respectively.

Vietnamese firms have increased their overseas investments in recent years toexpand their global reach.

As of May 20, Vietnam had 1,420 valid overseas projects worth a total of nearly$22 billion, mainly in the sectors of mining, with 36.4 percent of totalcapital, while agro-forestry-fisheries had 15.3 percent.

Laos was the largest receiver for Vietnam’s overseas investment, making up 24 percentof the total capital, followed by Cambodia (13.1 percent) and Russia (13 percent)./.