Hong Kong celebrated a significant milestone on June 25, welcoming 413 newly arrived or expanded overseas and Chinese Mainland companies at a reception hosted by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK). The event highlighted the city's continued appeal as a global business destination, with these enterprises projected to inject over HK$53 billion (US$6.8 billion) in foreign direct investment and generate more than 8,600 new jobs.
John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), underscored Hong Kong's competitive edge, noting its ranking as the world's freest economy by the Fraser Institute and the second most competitive economy according to the latest 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." He attributed this success to the "one country, two systems" principle, which provides strong support from China while maintaining global connectivity, an open business environment, a simple low tax regime, and a common law system aligned with international financial centers.
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 rising 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 sectors included innovation and technology (93), financial services and fintech (89), tourism and hospitality (55), transport, logistics and industrials (44), and business and professional services (39).
Representatives from several companies shared their positive experiences. Michael Zankel, Regional Director East Asia/Oceania of Austria-based transport and logistics firm Gebrüder Weiss, which recently upgraded its Hong Kong office to a regional headquarters, 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." Merwann Younes, Global Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle Channels for Italian company Moleskine, described Hong Kong as "a very dynamic and creative city, which are also the core values for Moleskine as a brand." Etienne Dubois, Chief Strategy Officer of Unlimitics, which developed an AI-powered school simulation game for neurodivergent children, highlighted Hong Kong as "a very good melting pot for talent and opportunities and for growth."
Looking ahead, Lee announced that the HKSAR Government is expediting development of the Northern Metropolis, a new economic engine set to become an international innovation and technology (I&T) and business hub. "This will unlock abundant opportunities and shape a prosperous future for Hong Kong," he said, adding that the government is creating Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan, focusing on long-term economic momentum, advancing technology, and improving livelihoods. The full investment promotion results are available at InvestHK's report.
