New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) Foreign funds inflow into India touched $19.38 billion during the first eight months of this fiscal ending November, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said here Thursday.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in November stood at $1.74 billion, an increase of over 60 percent from the $1.08 billion the country received in the corresponding month last year.

'India's share of world FDI has jumped from 0.78 percent in 2005 to 2.45 percent in 2008,' said Sharma.

The 2009 survey of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, conducted among Japanese investors, continues to rank India as the second-most promising country for overseas business operations after China, said a statement issued by the commerce ministry.