HAIKOU - South China's Hainan province saw its foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow rise 107.8 percent in 2019, according to the province's department of commerce Friday.

Hainan's FDI inflow reached $1.5 billion last year as more foreign companies are drawn to the island province due to its favorable investment policies.

In 2019, Hainan continued to open up, optimized its business environment and shortened the negative list for foreign investment.

Hainan will focus on the sectors of finance leasing, new energy vehicles, pharmaceutical engineering and medical devices to introduce foreign companies and investment in 2020, the department said.