October 22 (SeeNews) - The net inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) in Montenegro rose by 15% on the year to a preliminary 454.7 million euro ($680 million) in the first eight months of 2009, central bank data showed on Thursday.
Total FDI inflow amounted to 541.6 million euro over the same period , the central bank, CBCG, said in a statement.
“The majority of investments in the observed period went into domestic companies and banks, whereas investments in real estate decreased,” CBCG said, adding that investments in local companies and banks increased by 62.6% on the year to 330 million euro.
Investments in real estate totalled 98.7 million euro, down 50% on the year. Intercompany debt was reported at 98.7 million euro.
Total FDI outflow in the eight months through August was 86.9 million euro, down 59% from the same period last year. In the outflow structure, 17.9 million euro, or 20.6% of the total, was related to investments in real estate, while investments of Montenegrin residents in foreign banks and companies totalled 19.2 million euro, the statement said.
“The outflow for intercompany debt and withdrawal of the share of foreign capital in domestic banks and companies amounted to 49.8 million euro,” the central bank said.
($=0.6665 euro)