HONG KONG — More than 380 representatives of global enterprises attended a welcome reception on June 25 for 413 newly arrived or expanded overseas and Chinese Mainland companies in Hong Kong, signaling robust confidence in the city's business environment. Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the government's investment promotion agency, announced impressive results for the first half of 2026, revealing that these enterprises are expected to bring in over HK$53 billion (US$6.8 billion) in foreign direct investment and create over 8,600 new jobs for Hong Kong.
Speaking at the reception, John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), emphasized Hong Kong's global standing. “Hong Kong is one of the best places in the world to do business, being ranked as the world's freest economy by the Fraser Institute and the second most competitive economy according to the latest IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook,” Mr. Lee said. “In choosing Hong Kong for your Asian and global business expansion, you share my belief in Hong Kong's flourishing future. You have made a wise choice.”
Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong retains distinctive advantages: strong support from China, a business-friendly environment, a simple and low tax regime, and a common law system that connects seamlessly with global financial centers. These factors continue to attract diverse enterprises. Austria-based transport and logistics firm Gebrüder Weiss recently upgraded its Hong Kong office to become 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 also praised Hong Kong's dynamism. Merwann Younes, Global Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle Channels, described Hong Kong as “a very dynamic and creative city, which are also the core values for Moleskine as a brand.” Meanwhile, Etienne Dubois, Chief Strategy Officer of Unlimitics, which developed an AI-powered school simulation game for neurodivergent children, highlighted Hong Kong's appeal for startups: “It is a very good melting pot for talent and opportunities and for growth.”
InvestHK's first-half results 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 came 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 said the HKSAR Government is expediting development of the Northern Metropolis, a new economic engine destined to become an international I&T and business hub. “This will unlock abundant opportunities and shape a prosperous future for Hong Kong,” he added, noting that the government is also 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: InvestHK Results PDF.
