Some 838 investors are foreign nationals with an aggregate capital of 40.23 billion Birr, it said.

Promotion and public relation department director with the agency, Aklilu Woldemariam said the amount of capital inflow registered during the reported period exceeded that of the previous year of the same period by 30.92 billion Birr.

Most of the investment projects focus mainly on industry and agricultural sectors. The rest are engaged construction, education, health, catering and tourism sectors, the director said.

The Addis Ababa city Administration, the Oromia and Amhara States have attracted most of the investment projects.

The investment projects would create jobs for 99,581 people when all investment projects go fully operational.

The director attributed the success mainly to the favorable investment opportunities in the country and improved service delivery to investors by the agency and the regional state investment commissions.

The diplomatic missions abroad have also been exerting efforts to attract inflow of foreign direct investment.

The agency has plans to undertake promotional activities to attract more investors into the country during the celebration of the Ethiopian millennium.