Foreign investors have registered to invest US$781 million (Bt27.6 billion) so far this year. The ministry said these numbers were up only 1 per cent over the same period last year.

Of the registered foreign direct investment (FDI), $350 million has already been invested, an increase of 34 per cent over the amount invested in the same period last year.

The southeastern province of Binh Duong, bordering Ho Chi Minh City, has attracted more than any other province, accounting for 35 per cent of the registered FDI.

The southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau ranks second, accounting for 27 per cent. The northern province of Thai Nguyen is third, with 16 per cent.

Foreign investors employed 9,000 new workers in the first two months of the year, increasing the total number of employees at FDI companies in Vietnam to 1.15 million.

Qatari patients

With a growing number of Qataris coming to Thailand for medical treatment, the Doha-based National Health Authority (NHA) is set to open an office in Bangkok in order to assist its nationals.

According to The Peninsula English-language daily, Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer bin Mohammad al-Thani, who is in charge of an NHA department dealing with Qatari patients abroad, said the Thai office's job would be to follow up on Qataris admitted to hospital in Thailand and coordinate their treatment.

"This office is part of the procedures we are developing to simplify treatment abroad," he said.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 Qataris visit Thailand each year for medical treatment.

Malaysia tourism

Due to a shared border and good transportation, more than four million Thais are expected to visit Malaysia during Visit Malaysia Year 2007, the Tourism Industry Board of Thailand said late last week. Bernama quoted board member Abdul Aziz Awang Seman as saying this was more than double last year's number.

"Malaysia is a country we must visit because it is an example of progress, and we also want to help our neighbour during the Visit Malaysia Year 2007," he told the news agency.