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Zoe SL Chan

US and European firms continued to expand their footprints in Hong Kong in the first half of the year, adding new momentum to the city’s role as a superconnector.
A total of 413 companies either set up local entities or expanded their presence in Hong Kong in the first six months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 9 per cent, government investment promotion agency InvestHK said on Thursday.
“[The firms] are expected to bring in over HK$53 billion [US$6.75 billion] in foreign direct investment [FDI] and create more than 8,600 new jobs,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at the agency’s annual reception.
The statistics represent an increase of 36 per cent in FDI and 8 per cent in new jobs generated.
The city said it would continue to offer an open and business-friendly environment, low and straightforward taxes, and a common law system that would seamlessly connect with global financial centres.
The InvestHK reception was attended by more than 380 representatives from global enterprises.
InvestHK data showed that about 60 per cent of the firms set up in the city so far this year came from mainland China, representing 246 firms. Twenty-six firms were from Singapore, 21 from the United States and 18 from the United Kingdom. France and Italy each contributed 11 new enterprises.
The top five sectors included innovation and technology, financial services, transport and logistics, tourism and hospitality, and the business and professional sectors.
Closely aligned with the focus of the national 15th five-year plan and Hong Kong’s policy address, InvestHK said it would focus on attracting new economy, innovation and technology companies, including those engaged in artificial intelligence, life and health, and sustainable development.

Innovation and technology now accounted for the largest share of the international and mainland Chinese companies, according to InvestHK.
Lee added that Hong Kong’s rising international ranking, coupled with its strong performance in attracting investment and enterprises, reflected the city’s robust advantages and immense opportunities.
“We want to continue to focus on Hong Kong as an aviation hub, and the development within the Greater Bay Area [GBA], which will help from a customer’s perspective as well as help trade to be much smoother between Hong Kong and the GBA region,” said Nina Barton, director of sustainability for the Asia-Pacific region at DSV.
DSV, a European logistics company, currently operates 14 business facilities in Hong Kong, including warehouses and cold chain facilities.
Kaisar Liao, vice-president of Zijin Gold International, said the city’s push to develop into an international gold trading hub had encouraged the firm to expand its local ecosystem, including planned facilities for gold refining and warehousing.
“Hong Kong really provides excellent professional services and robust talent support, which has been crucial as we establish our corporate treasury centre platform here to capture these new opportunities,” Liao said.
Sean Abbott, director of APAC banking and infrastructure at US-based cross-border payment firm Payoneer, said Hong Kong was uniquely positioned to capture new opportunities by serving as a launchpad for businesses expanding globally.
“We are very keen to continue seeing initiatives that encourage Chinese businesses, or companies from anywhere in the world, to come to Hong Kong, set up shop, and use it as a base to do business internationally,” he said.
In addition, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) has generated strong momentum, attracting high-net-worth individuals and capital inflows to Hong Kong since its launch in March 2024.
As of June 18, InvestHK had attracted 2,377 investors and brought HK$119 billion in investments to the city since the scheme was launched, according to the latest figures from the department.


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Hong Kong

A total of 413 companies set up or expanded their businesses in the city in the first six months


A total of 413 companies set up or expanded their businesses in the city in the first six months.


Hong Kong reports 36% rise in FDI inflows so far this year, InvestHK data shows

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A total of 413 companies set up or expanded their businesses in the city in the first six months

A total of 413 companies set up or expanded their businesses in the city in the first six months