Managua, January 22 (RHC)-- Nicaragua attracted 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2013, up 17 percent from the previous year, state-run investment agency ProNicaragua said Tuesday.

"Of the total FDI calculated for 2013, 105 million dollars were invested by companies operating under the tax-free regimen, which represents an increase of 60 percent compared to 2012," said ProNicaragua.

ProNicaragua said the energy, telecommunication, mining, industry, trade, bonds and services are the sectors that benefited most from the FDI, while the United States, Panama, Mexico, Canada and Spain sourced the 68 percent of the total investments.