Foreign direct investment in Georgia fell to USD 759.1 million in 2009, down from USD 1.56 billion in 2008, statistics office, Geostat, said on March 16.

Geostat said it was a preliminary figure.

44.5% of overall FDI came from United Arab Emirates and Egypt – USD 169.8 million and USD 167.5 million, respectively.

The Netherlands was third with USD 105.7 million, followed by Turkey – USD 89.5 million; Panama - USD 73.4 million and UK – USD 63.5 million.

Industrial sector attracted most of FDI – USD 204.1 million, followed by transport and communications – USD 153.6; hotels and restaurants – USD 134 million; real estate – USD 132 million; construction sector – USD 79.7 million; banking sector – USD 45.3 million.

Foreign direct investment was USD 2.014 bln in 2007; USD 1.19 billion in 2006 and USD 449.8 million in 2005.