HCMC - The HCMC Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) announced on April 12 that the total investment in the city’s industrial parks in the January-March period reached US$191.93 million, a 112.12% year-on-year rise.

Of the total, foreign direct investment (FDI) amounted to US$176.7 million, a 3.6-fold increase against the same period last year. Domestic investment dropped by 63.15% to US$15.23 million. Leased land area totaled 0.81 hectare while the area for rented warehouse was 6,634 square meters. Hua Quoc Hung, head of HEPZA, said that the first three months of this year has seen a surge in new orders for enterprises in the industrial zones, who previously grappled with a shortage of new orders. The January-March export turnover of businesses operating in export processing zones and industrial parks is estimated at US$2.17 billion, up by 6% year-on-year. Around 277,000 people were employed, a 10% increase compared to late last year.