Taiwan is one of the main sources of foreign investment in Vietnam, with accumulated capital infusion estimated at around US$25 billion, according to the head of a Taiwanese industry association in Hanoi. Huang Teh-hsiu, president of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in the Vietnamese capital, said there are some 30,000 Taiwanese business people operating in Hanoi at present and that the number of Taiwanese business people and their dependents throughout Vietnam is approaching 200,000. According to Huang, Taiwan dropped to third in terms of capital investment funneled into Vietnam so far this year, trailing behind South Korea and Japan. He attributed the decline mainly to the fact that fewer Taiwanese companies have bid for public infrastructure construction projects in Vietnam this year. But Huang said he believes that if the amount invested by Taiwanese companies via third countries was included, Taiwan would remain as the top foreign investor in Vietnam. Taiwanese business groups began forays into the Vietnamese market 20 years ago, Huang said, adding that major Taiwanese conglomerates, including the Hon Hai Group and Compal Electronics Co., now have a solid presence in Vietnam. With its rich natural resources and political and economic stability, Vietnam is a favorable investment destination, Huang noted. 'I hope our government will give more assistance to Vietnam-based Taiwanese companies to expand their market share in the country,' he added. 