An economic and trade delegation from Hainan Province visited Hong Kong from October 19 to 20, signing memoranda of cooperation with The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (CMA) and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) to advance pragmatic cross-border collaboration in trade and investment, manufacturing industrial chains, and professional services. The agreements, reported via Media OutReach Newswire, establish a regular liaison mechanism and a long-term cooperation platform covering information sharing, business matchmaking, exhibition collaboration, and professional services, providing solid support for business cooperation between Hainan and Hong Kong enterprises.
The visit matters because it cements Hong Kong's role as a key partner for the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), which has seen explosive growth since island-wide special customs operations launched on December 18, 2025. According to Wang Yuyuan, Vice President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Hainan Sub-council (CCPIT Hainan), 174,000 new enterprises were registered since the launch, a year-on-year surge of 95.9 percent, while newly established foreign-invested enterprises rose 35.8 percent year on year. In the first half of this year, inbound and outbound tourist arrivals exceeded 70 million, up 28 percent year on year, with the number of visa-free entry countries expanding to 88. From January to August, the province's total goods import and export volume hit 250 billion yuan, growing 61.5 percent year on year. These figures underscore Hainan's emergence as a critical gateway connecting China with the rest of the world and a prime channel for two-way investment.
Hong Kong's importance to Hainan is equally significant. CCPIT Hainan notes that Hong Kong ranks as a major source of foreign investment for Hainan. In the first half of this year, Hainan registered 1,303 new foreign-invested enterprises, an increase of 38.62 percent year on year, with Hong Kong-funded enterprises accounting for the lion's share. Additionally, Hainan has issued offshore RMB local government bonds in Hong Kong for four consecutive years, with a cumulative issuance volume reaching 18 billion yuan. The new memoranda build on this foundation, linking Hainan with CMA, one of Hong Kong's most representative non-profit industrial and commercial bodies with around 3,000 member enterprises, and FHKI, one of Hong Kong's four major chambers of commerce with approximately 2,000 corporate members focused on policy advocacy, business matchmaking, certification services, and youth talent cultivation.
During the visit, the delegation also visited the CCPIT Representative Office in Hong Kong, held discussions with CMA, and co-hosted the Hainan Free Trade Port (Hong Kong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Meeting with FHKI. The event showcased the FTP's policies, key industrial layout, and investment opportunities, and arranged one-on-one business matchmaking between Hainan and Hong Kong enterprises. These engagements signal a deepening integration that could accelerate two-way investment flows and industrial chain collaboration, positioning Hainan as a launchpad for international businesses and Hong Kong as a conduit for capital and professional services.
The agreements are expected to facilitate more concrete business partnerships, leveraging Hainan's liberalized trade regime and Hong Kong's strengths in finance, logistics, and professional services. As global supply chains evolve, the Hainan-Hong Kong axis could become a model for regional cooperation, driving innovation and sustainable growth in manufacturing and trade. The memoranda's emphasis on a regular liaison mechanism ensures that collaboration will be sustained and expanded, offering tangible benefits for enterprises on both sides.
