SEOUL, Dec 15 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea’s overseas direct investment fell for the fourth straight quarter, on lingering uncertainty over global economy, government data showed, today.
Overseas investment through the purchase of foreign stocks and the establishment of foreign offices, stood at 14.62 billion U.S. dollars in the Jul-Sept quarter, down 20.4 percent, from the same quarter of last year, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
It continued to reduce in double digits, since the fourth quarter of last year, due to the global economic uncertainty, affected by the tightened monetary policy in major economies.
Overseas investment in the finance and insurance, and the real estate sectors, dived in double figures to 6.66 billion dollars and 920 million dollars, respectively.
Investment in the overseas manufacturing industry, gained 11.8 percent to 4.86 billion dollars, but investment in the science and technology, and the mining sectors dipped in double digits to 430 million dollars and 400 million dollars each.
Direct investment in North America shed 0.8 percent over the year to 7.64 billion dollars, in the third quarter.
Investment in Europe, Asia and Latin America diminished in double figures to 2.81 billion dollars, 2.11 billion dollars and 1.79 billion dollars each.
