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Vietnam will attract over US$23 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half of this year, the biggest-ever amount in a year, Hanoi newspaper Youth on Monday quoted a local investment official as saying.

"We will license some five major FDI projects, including one on building an oil refinery worth 6 billion dollars from now to the end of June. Investment in technology is increasing," said Phan Huu Thang, head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Vietnam will lure considerable amounts of FDI from North America, Europe and Japan in the coming time although its macro economy is facing temporary difficulty, he said, noting that many Japanese investors are interested in the local high technology sector.

Vietnam is trying to foster its auxiliary industries, simplify administrative procedures, and improve transport, communications, and electricity networks to entice more foreign investors.

"The government has intensified investment in many major infrastructure works. Infrastructure will be much improved in the next one or two years... This year, we prioritize acceleration of FDI disbursement," he said.

Vietnam attracted FDI of US$20.3 billion in 2007.

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