Hong Kong Welcomes 413 New and Expanded Enterprises, Boosting FDI by 36% in First Half of 2026

Hong Kong’s position as a global business hub was reinforced this week as Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) welcomed 413 newly arrived or expanded overseas and Chinese Mainland companies, which are expected to bring in over HK$53 billion (US$6.8 billion) in foreign direct investment and create more than 8,600 new jobs. The announcement came during a reception on June 25 attended by over 380 corporate representatives.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive John Lee highlighted Hong Kong’s competitive advantages, including its ranking as the world’s freest economy by the Fraser Institute and second most competitive economy according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. ‘In choosing Hong Kong for your Asian and global business expansion, you share my belief in Hong Kong’s flourishing future,’ Lee said. ‘You have made a wise choice. Hong Kong is one of the world’s best economies to do business in and with.’

Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong benefits from strong support from China while maintaining close global connections, offering an open business environment, low tax regime, and common law system. These factors have attracted companies across diverse sectors.

Austrian transport and logistics firm Gebrüder Weiss recently upgraded its Hong Kong office to a regional headquarters for East Asia and Oceania. Regional Director Michael Zankel noted, ‘The business environment is great, you have a lot of talent around here to employ. It has always been the gateway to the Chinese Mainland but for us it is more a gateway to Asia.’

Italian company Moleskine, a global brand known for notebooks and lifestyle products, also expanded its presence. Global Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle Channels Merwann Younes described Hong Kong as ‘a very dynamic and creative city, which are also the core values for Moleskine as a brand.’

Unlimitics, a startup developing an AI-powered school simulation game for neurodivergent children, chose Hong Kong for its growth. Chief Strategy Officer Etienne Dubois called the city ‘a very good melting pot for talent and opportunities and for growth.’

InvestHK’s first-half 2026 results showed a 9% increase in completed projects compared to the same period in 2025, with anticipated direct investment up 36% and new jobs up 6% year-on-year. Among the 413 enterprises, 246 originated from the Chinese Mainland, followed by Singapore (26), the United States (21), the United Kingdom (18), France (11), and Italy (11).

The top five sectors were innovation and technology (93), financial services and fintech (89), tourism and hospitality (55), transport, logistics and industrials (44), and business and professional services (39).

Looking ahead, Chief Executive Lee said the government is expediting development of the Northern Metropolis, a new economic engine expected to become an international innovation and technology and business hub. ‘This will unlock abundant opportunities and shape a prosperous future for Hong Kong,’ Lee said, adding that the government is creating Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan, a strategic blueprint focusing on long-term economic momentum, technology advancement, and improved livelihoods.

Detailed investment promotion results for the first half of 2026 are available at this link.

This news story relied on content distributed by Media Outreach. Blockchain Registration, Verification & Enhancement provided by NewsRamp. The source URL for this press release is Hong Kong Welcomes 413 New and Expanded Enterprises, Boosting FDI by 36% in First Half of 2026.

The post Hong Kong Welcomes 413 New and Expanded Enterprises, Boosting FDI by 36% in First Half of 2026 appeared first on citybuzz.