According to the UNCTAD report titled *World Investment Report 2023*, total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Southeast Asia reached US$222.56 billion in 2022.
This FDI value increased by 4.58% year-on-year (YoY).
Indonesia received the second-largest amount of foreign investment in Southeast Asia in 2022, with FDI reaching US$21.96 billion.
Indonesia ranked below Singapore, which had the highest FDI in the region, with US$141.21 billion in foreign investment in 2022.
Vietnam followed in third place with US$17.9 billion in foreign investment, followed by Malaysia with US$16.93 billion.
Timor Leste received the least foreign capital, at only US$262.45 million.
Conversely, Brunei Darussalam was the only Southeast Asian country to experience a loss in foreign investment, at minus US$292.41 million.
According to UNCTAD, the inflow and outflow of foreign investment consists of three components: equity capital, reinvested earnings, and inter-company loans.
UNCTAD explains that a net decrease in assets or a net increase in liabilities is recorded as a credit (positive), while a net increase in assets or a net decrease in liabilities is recorded as a debit (negative).
"Therefore, a negative FDI flow indicates that at least one of the three FDI components is negative and not offset by a positive amount from the other components. This is called reverse investment or disinvestment," as reported on the UNCTAD website.
Here is a breakdown of the value of foreign investment received by Southeast Asian countries in 2022:
1. Singapore: US$141.21 billion
2. Indonesia: US$21.96 billion
3. Vietnam: US$17.9 billion
4. Malaysia: US$16.93 billion
5. Thailand: US$10.03 billion
6. Philippines: US$9.19 billion
7. Cambodia: US$3.57 billion
8. Myanmar: US$1.23 billion
9. Laos: US$528.22 million
10. Timor Leste: US$262.45 million
11. Brunei Darussalam: -US$292.41 million