S.Korea's overseas direct investment rise 5.2 pct in Q1

South Korea's overseas direct investment increased in the first quarter on demand for spending capital in building factories in Europe and the United States, a government report showed Tuesday.

Overseas direct investment reported in the first quarter amounted to 7.72 billion U.S. dollars during the January-March period, up 5.2 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Finance Ministry.

The growth came as demand for investment into Europe and the U. S. increased amid global recovery, especially in advanced economies, despite economic slowdown in China, the ministry said.

The country's direct investment in foreign countries had expanded at an annual average rate of 32.6 percent from 2006 to 2011, but it turned downward for three years to 2014 due to global economic uncertainties.

Direct investment into North America and Europe surged 46.1 percent and 19.5 percent each in the first quarter from a year earlier, with those to Asia and Latin America reducing 34.1 percent and 12.3 percent respectively.

South Korean players invested mainly into the wholesale and retail industry and the finance and insurance sector overseas during the first quarter.

Investment in the manufacturing industry climbed 5.9 percent from a year earlier to 1.93 billion dollars in the first quarter as producers of cars, auto parts and clothing increased overseas capital spending.

Direct investment into the mining and the real estate industries plunged 47.3 percent and 51 percent each during the quarter. Endi