InvestHK 2026 Data: US, Singapore, and UK Firms Flock to the SAR

InvestHK achieved a record-breaking 2025, assisting 560 companies—a 4% year-on-year increase—to set up or expand in Hong Kong. This surge was primarily driven by Mainland Chinese firms using the city as a "springboard" for international expansion, alongside significant growth in the Financial Services, Fintech, and I&T sectors.

The Springboard City: InvestHK Shatters Records as Global Firms Pivot to Hong Kong in 2026

If 2024 was the year of "stabilization," 2026 is officially the year of the "rebound." Fresh data released today (January 26) by InvestHK confirms that the city’s appeal as an international business hub is not just intact—it is accelerating. In a year marked by complex global shifts, the department successfully assisted a record 560 companies in establishing or expanding their footprint in Hong Kong, representing a solid 4% increase over the previous year.

Beyond the raw numbers, the data reveals a deeper narrative: Hong Kong has evolved from a simple gateway into China into a sophisticated "springboard" out of China, providing the legal, financial, and logistics infrastructure for Mainland giants to conquer global markets.

1. By the Numbers: A New High-Water Mark

The 560 assisted companies didn't just bring their logos to the city; they brought substantial economic weight. These entities collectively attracted approximately $69.4 billion HKD in direct investment and created over 6,000 new jobs within their first year of operation.

Metric	2024 Results	2025/2026 Results	Growth
Total Assisted Companies	538	560	+4%
Investment Generated	~$61.6B HKD	~$69.4B HKD	+12.6%
Key Growth Sector	Fintech	Financial Services & I&T	Strong

A notable contributor to this fiscal success is the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES). By the end of 2025, the scheme had received 2,852 applications, projected to inject more than $85.5 billion HKD into the local economy, signaling a massive vote of confidence from high-net-worth global investors.

2. The "Springboard" Effect: Mainland China’s Global Launchpad

The standout statistic in today’s report is the origin of these companies. Mainland China remains the largest source, accounting for 298 of the 560 companies (over 53%).

Contrary to earlier bearish predictions that Mainland firms might bypass Hong Kong for direct overseas setups, the data shows the opposite. Companies in the Artificial Intelligence (AI), EV, and E-commerce sectors are increasingly utilizing Hong Kong to:

• Mitigate Geopolitical Risk: Leveraging Hong Kong’s separate customs territory status.

• Access International Capital: Using the city’s deep liquidity and stock exchange to fund global acquisitions.

• Protect IP: Utilizing Hong Kong’s common law system for global patent and trademark registration.

"The 'Springboard' strategy is now the standard playbook for Mainland tech firms," noted one InvestHK official. "They establish their R&D or regional HQ here to 'internationalize' their brand before heading to ASEAN, Europe, or the Middle East."

3. The Top Five: Who is Investing in Hong Kong?

While the Mainland dominates, the city remains a truly international magnet. The top five locations of origin for these 560 companies span the globe:

1. Chinese Mainland: 298 Companies

2. United States: 42 Companies

3. Singapore: 29 Companies

4. United Kingdom: 26 Companies

5. Canada/Japan (tie): 15 Companies

   
   

This diversity refutes the "de-internationalization" narrative. The presence of 42 U.S. firms and 26 U.K. firms underscores that for Western businesses, the practical benefits of Hong Kong's tax regime and proximity to Asian markets still outweigh political noise.

4. Sector Deep Dive: Fintech, AI, and Family Offices

Where is the money actually going? The "New Economy" sectors are the clear winners. Financial Services and Fintech took the top spot with 117 companies, followed closely by Innovation and Technology (I&T) with 115.

The surge in Family Offices (80 companies) is particularly telling. Following the government’s aggressive tax concessions and the success of the Wealth for Good summit, Hong Kong has successfully positioned itself as the premier hub for ultra-high-net-worth families looking for long-term stability and professional wealth management.

Connecting the Dots: The 2026 Outlook

Today's InvestHK report doesn't exist in a vacuum. It works in tandem with the $200M Smart Port Upgrade (PCS) and the Northern Metropolis fast-track factory structures. For a foreign company, the proposition is simple:

• InvestHK helps you set up.

• Northern Metropolis gives you a place to build.

• The PCS and E-Lock schemes ensure your goods move across the border and onto ships faster than anywhere else in the region.

As we head into the rest of 2026, the challenge will be maintaining this 4% growth rate in the face of fluctuating global interest rates. However, with $69.4 billion in fresh investment already on the books, Hong Kong’s role as the world’s "Super Connector" has never looked more robust.