Of the first-seven-month figure, manufacturing and processing sector grew by 13.1%, contributing 9.9 percentage points to the general growth, followed by power generation and distribution with an increase of 10.7%, or one percentage point.

 

All 63 provinces and cities witnessed industrial growth in the reviewed period, reported the GSO.

 

Foreign investment inflows decreased by 3.5% to about US$18 billion while disbursed volume climbed 8.8% to US$ 9.85 billion.

 

Manufacturing and processing sector still remains the magnet for foreign investment as the registered capital reached some US$8,4 billion, accounting for 46.4%.

 

The GSO said export turnover was estimated at US$133.69 billion, up 15.3% against the same period last year while import value increased by 10.2% to US$130.63 billion.

 

Also in the first seven months, the number of foreign arrivals was estimated at more than 9 million, up 25.4%.

 

Asia was still the key source market with 6,988.6 thousand arrivals, followed by Europe with 1,230.1 thousand arrivals and America with 570.8 thousand arrivals.