Foreign direct investment in Georgia reached USD 834 million in the first half of 2016, which is 10.6% increase compared to the same period of last year, according to preliminary data released by the state statistics office on Thursday.

FDI in the second quarter of 2016 declined 3.8% year-on-year to USD 445 million, which is 14.9% increase compared to first quarter’s USD 389 million, according to preliminary data.

Transport and communication received the largest share of FDI in the second quarter of 2016 – USD 175 million, followed by financial sector – USD 60 million; energy sector – USD 46 million; construction – USD 19 million; manufacturing – USD 17 million; mining – USD 16 million; real estate – USD 15 million; hotels and restaurants – USD 13 million; healthcare – USD 13 million.  

Most of the FDI in the second quarter of 2016 came from Azerbaijan – USD 146 million, followed by companies incorporated in the UK – USD 64 million; the Czech Republic – USD 36 million; Turkey – USD 28 million. USD 27 million and USD 20 million came from companies registered in Panama and the Netherlands, respectively, followed by Austria – USD 18 million; Cyprus – USD 14 million; United States – USD 13 million and Saudi Arabia – USD 10 million.

Georgia’s foreign direct investment in 2015 stood at USD 1.56 billion, an 11% decline compared to 2014.