It is the first time that Vietnam shows up in that select group by getting from other countries more than 16 billion dollars, the UN agency highlighted when upgrading the Indochinese nation from 24 to the 19 place in its analysis on the corresponding issue, last year.

In Southeast Asia, foreign direct investment (FDI) fell 25 percent in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but in Vietnam it only fell by two percent, it said.

In the region, it was only surpassed by Singapore and Indonesia, it specified, but their decreases were of 21 and 22 percent, respectively.

The countries having invested the most in Vietnam last year were Singapore ($ 5.44 billion, 37 percent of the total) and Japan ($ 2.444 billion, a 67 percent increase compared to 2019).

Unctad attributed the position of the Indochinese nation to several decisions, among them the permission for certain disputes between foreign investors and the State to be taken to international arbitration.

Also, the broadening of eligible commercial line list to encourage FDI and the publication of a detailed list of conditions for high-tech companies with good scores to benefit from tax incentives.

pgh/lcp