TAIPEI - Investment in Taiwan from the Chinese mainland hit $216.6 million in the first half of 2013, up 77.32 percent year on year, the island's economic authority said on Tuesday.

Seventy-one investment projects from mainland businesses were given the green light in the first six months, a 12.7-percent increase compared with the same period of 2012.

The increase in investment is mainly because Hong Kong Metal Products Packing Co Ltd gained the equity of Taiwan Supreme Co Ltd with $59.40 million, and China Construction Bank opened a branch in Taiwan with $46.85 million, according to the authority.

In the meantime, 207 Taiwan investment projects on the mainland were approved by the island, 5.91 percent less compared with the same period of last year. The involved investment totaled $4.73 billion, a 9.7-percent decrease compared with the first half of 2012.

A total of 413 mainland investment projects with a worth of $720 million have been approved since the island opened to mainland investors on June 30, 2009.