China says foreign direct investment jumps

Foreign direct investment in China rose 14.3 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2010, the government said on Saturday, in an announcement that could add to mounting concern over inflation.Foreign companies invested 38.9 billion dollars in the world's third-largest economy from January through May, commerce ministry spokesman Yao Jian told reporters.That marked an acceleration from the 11.3 percent growth logged from January to April and the 7.7 percent growth of the first quarter.

Foreign direct investment in China rose 11.3 percent on-year in the first four months of 2010, the government said Friday, suggesting confidence in the world's third-largest economy continued to grow.Foreign companies pumped in 30.8 billion dollars in direct investment in the country from January to April, the commerce ministry said on its website.The figure marked an acceleration from the 7.7 percent jump seen in the first quarter.In April alone, foreign investment increased 24.7 percent to 7.3 billion dollars, it said.

Foreign direct investment in China leapt 32 percent year-on-year in November for the fourth straight monthly increase, the commerce ministry said Wednesday.China attracted 7.023 billion dollars in foreign investment last month, ministry spokesman Yao Jian told reporters.The increase compared with a 5.7 percent rise in October, an 18.9 percent jump in September, and a seven percent rise in August, which ended 10 straight months of declines.Foreign direct investment in the first 11 months of 2009 fell 9.9 percent over the same period last year to 77.9 billion dollars.

Foreign direct investment in China doubled year-on-year last month as global demand perked up from the depths of the financial crisis, officials said Friday.China attracted 12.1 billion dollars in FDI last month, a rise of 103 percent from December 2008 when the global crisis was taking hold, the commerce ministry said.Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said the strong rebound -- the fifth straight monthly increase for China's FDI -- showed the world's third-largest economy was still attractive to foreign investors.

Foreign direct investment in China took a further hit in the month of February, the commerce ministry said. Investment by foreign business in the first two months of the year is down 26.23 percent from a year earlier.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico fell by 50.7 percent to 11.417 billion dollars in 2009, its lowest level in 10 years, chiefly due to the global financial crisis, the government said.In 2008, total direct foreign investment reached 23.17 billion dollars, the Secretariat of Economy said.Top foreign investors in Mexico last year included the United States, with 5.8 billion dollars, the Netherlands (1.46 billion), the US territory of Puerto Rico (1.16 billion) and Canada (one billion), it added.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Russia almost halved in the first nine months of the year, the statistics office said on Friday, as the economic crisis reduced the country's appeal for investors.FDI from January-September amounted to 9.98 billion dollars, down 48.1 percent from the same period last year, the statistics office said in a statement.Overall foreign investment was 54.73 billion dollars, down 27.8 percent from January-September 2008, the statement said.

Egypt aims to achieve 5.8 percent economic growth in the fiscal year that that begins in July, the ministry of economic development said on Thursday.Egypt is targetting "real economic growth of 5.8 percent," the ministry said on its website.It also hopes to attract direct foreign investment of eight billion dollars (6.5 billion euros).Investment Minister Mahmud Modieddin said earlier this month that Egypt should see economic growth of up to 5.5 percent for the fiscal year 2009-2010, driven in particular by the construction sector.