InvestHK at 25: powering growth for global firms in Hong Kong and beyond
As InvestHK celebrates its silver jubilee, it sharpens its focus on innovation, capital markets and regional expansion
When InvestHK was established in July 2000, its mission was clear: attract overseas and mainland Chinese companies to establish or expand in Hong Kong, reinforcing its position as “Asia’s world city”. Twenty-five years on, that mission remains unchanged, but the tools and the scale of support have evolved significantly.
This year, both InvestHK and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) marked their silver jubilees with notable results. In 2024, InvestHK assisted a record 539 mainland Chinese and overseas companies in setting up operations in Hong Kong. Since its establishment in 2000, 145 of InvestHK’s clients have listed on HKEX. Between January 2023 and June 2025, InvestHK helped more than 1,300 companies set up or expand in Hong Kong, bringing in over HK$160 billion (US$20 billion) in foreign direct investment. These companies created more than 19,000 jobs in their first year of operation, exceeding the government’s 2022 Policy Address targets ahead of schedule.
Hong Kong’s initial public offering (IPO) market has maintained steady momentum in 2025, with HKEX recording more than 50 listings between January and mid-July, a year-on-year increase of 30 per cent. The exchange ranked first globally in IPO fundraising during the period, with more than 200 companies actively preparing for a public offering in the second half of the year.
Support from InvestHK for overseas and mainland Chinese companies and institutions includes planning, setting up and expanding their operations in Hong Kong. The agency provides strategic advice on market entry, practical guidance during the establishment and launch phases, and continued support as businesses grow and scale across international markets via Hong Kong.
When an IPO is on the horizon, InvestHK offers pre-listing workshops covering disclosure, environmental, social and governance (ESG), and investor-relations requirements, enabling founders to scale up without needing to shift jurisdictions, a stability that is increasingly valued in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
Beyond projects: building ecosystems
While Hong Kong continues to attract IPO candidates, efforts are also underway to strengthen its role as a full-spectrum capital hub. These include attracting corporate treasury centres, green-bond issuers, asset and wealth managers, and digital-asset platforms, diversifying the landscape to meet the needs of today’s investors and reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a bridge between mainland Chinese and international capital.
Technology and innovation are also top priorities. By building communities that include capital market players, digital innovators and start-ups, the agency is helping to broaden the city’s funding base and position Hong Kong as the regional launch pad for innovation.
A strategic base amid global change
Amid global supply-chain shifts, growing data-security concerns and shifting export-control frameworks, Hong Kong’s strengths have become clearer. For mainland firms, the city offers China’s only common-law jurisdiction, enforceable contracts, independent courts and a fully convertible currency. For Western investors, HKEX listings provide transparent access to the mainland with one of the world’s largest consumer and industrial markets, while reducing exposure to onshore political sensitivities.
Recent success stories span a range of sectors. Geek+, a leader in mobile robotics for intelligent order fulfilment, established its international headquarters in Hong Kong to access local talent in research and development (R&D), as well as global capital.
In the green economy, Guofu Hydrogen Energy is developing fuelling infrastructure across the Greater Bay Area and was among the first companies to list under Chapter 18C. Meanwhile, F&B players such as Green Tea Group and Mixue Ice Cream & Tea both leveraged InvestHK’s investor network to finance regional expansion while benefiting from the city’s common-law jurisdiction and transparent tax regime.
These cases highlight the value of Hong Kong’s legal system and internationally respected regulatory frameworks, advantages that are increasingly important in a complex global environment.
Chapter 18C, introduced by HKEX in March 2023, has opened a new pathway to IPOs for deep-tech firms. Acknowledging that breakthrough innovation often requires capital before profitability, the listing regime permits R&D-intensive companies to go public if they meet certain spending thresholds and project a capitalisation of at least HK$8 billion.
Companies must also demonstrate ownership continuity and robust intellectual property protection. According to InvestHK, early adopters have noted that Hong Kong’s sponsor and analyst ecosystem offers valuation discovery on par with New York or Zurich, while avoiding the extraterritorial compliance risks increasingly associated with overseas exchanges.
The Hong Kong advantage
For founders, fund managers and family offices weighing their options, Hong Kong offers a compelling proposition: a low-tax, rules-based environment with abundant professional talent and access to Asia’s most affluent consumer base.
When ready to scale, companies can raise capital on an exchange that understands innovation, values good governance and has earned global investor confidence. Twenty-five years ago, that promise was aspirational. Today, it is simply the Hong Kong advantage.