Hong Kong celebrated the arrival of 413 newly established or expanded overseas and Chinese Mainland companies at a welcome reception on June 25, 2026, with over 380 representatives in attendance. Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the government's investment promotion agency, announced that these enterprises 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 for the city.
Chief Executive John Lee, speaking at the reception, emphasized Hong Kong's status as one of the world's best places to do business, citing 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,” Mr. Lee said. “You have made a wise choice.” Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong benefits from strong support from China while maintaining close connections to the world, offering an open business environment, a simple low tax regime, and a common law system that integrates seamlessly with global financial centers.
Several company representatives shared their positive experiences. Michael Zankel, Regional Director East Asia/Oceania for 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, added, “It is a very good melting pot for talent and opportunities and for growth.”
InvestHK's first-half results for 2026 showed a 9% increase in completed projects compared to the same period in 2025, with anticipated direct investment up 36% and new jobs created rising 6% year-on-year. Of 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, Mr. Lee announced that the HKSAR Government is expediting development of the Northern Metropolis, a new economic engine expected to become an international 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, a strategic blueprint focusing on long-term economic momentum, advancing technology, and improving livelihoods. The full investment promotion results are available at this link.
