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Hong Kong’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises has secured HK$60 billion in planned investment as more international companies set up and scale from the city
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Hong Kong’s economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience through recent years, and it is now powering an economic resurgence as companies continue to flock to the city.
In 2025, it recorded 119 new listings that raised over HK$280 billion (US$35.7 billion), edging out other markets like the US to become the world’s go-to IPO destination. For instance, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer from China and a strategic enterprise with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), was the second biggest IPO in the world last year, drawing broad investor interest from overseas as well as the Chinese mainland.
There are several factors driving this strong IPO activity. Global firms’ ongoing pursuit of expansion and the accelerating tech trends on the Chinese mainland are among them.
Also at work are policies and initiatives by the Hong Kong government, such as OASES. First unveiled to the public in a 2022 Policy Address by John Lee, the city’s chief executive, OASES is part of a plan to “proactively attract leading global enterprises” and investment to Hong Kong.
Much of the office’s focus centres around five strategic industries related to innovation and technology: AI and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy tech, fintech, life and health tech, and cultural and creative industry.
The government office offers one-stop support services to ensure entrepreneurs have everything they need to venture into the city, whether it is policy alignment, business matching, visa support or market intelligence, says an OASES spokesperson.
What OASES is helping firms tap into are the city’s underlying advantages. These range from a pro-business regulatory environment and robust free trade regime that ranks among the world’s top, which makes it easy to set up new companies and break into new markets.
Hong Kong’s common law system also offers stability, while strong intellectual property protections safeguard new innovations. The tax structure is also straightforward, with a corporate tax rate of 16.5 per cent and no value-added or sales tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax on dividends or interest.
These advantages come together in a few key areas that shape how companies establish and grow their presence.
Hong Kong’s policy environment plays a key role in enabling companies to move quickly. One example is the “1+” mechanism for the biomedical firms, which fast-tracks registration of new drugs, vaccines and advanced therapies with local data and overseas regulatory approval. Separately, since 2021, Hong Kong‑registered drugs and medical devices have also been approved for use in Greater Bay Area (GBA) hospitals, with over 60 drugs and 80 devices cleared across 71 institutions.
The city is also investing heavily in future industries. The 2025 Policy Address and 2026-27 Budget outline multiple artificial intelligence (AI)‑driven initiatives backed by targeted funding to accelerate industry growth.
With OASES’ one-stop support services, enterprises from all around the globe can get personalised assistance at every step of expanding into Hong Kong. This includes connecting them to government funding schemes such as the Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) and the Patent Application Grant, which provide research and development (R&D) funding for eligible companies incorporated in the city. Under the ESS, recipients can get up to HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) in matched funds per approved project.
Talent is another key consideration for companies establishing a presence. Hong Kong offers access to skilled professionals across sectors such as life sciences, AI, data science and fintech, supported by a strong university ecosystem.
It is the only city with five universities ranked in the global top 100, including the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Talent scheme such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the Technology Talent Admission Scheme also make it easier for companies to bring in skilled professionals and graduates from around the world by allowing them to come to Hong Kong without a job offer in hand, giving them time to explore opportunities and connect with employers.
OASES’ initiatives will serve as key facilitators for strategic enterprises in the city, underscoring how talent engagement directly drives expansion and impact.
The city’s location remains one of its defining advantages. As part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, it provides access to a market of around 86 million people, while maintaining international standards under the “one country, two systems” framework. Under this framework, Hong Kong has been able to act as a “super connector,” offering access to international networks, regulatory practices and professional services that meet global benchmarks.
This allows companies to operate within a globally familiar environment while staying closely connected to the Chinese mainland. To help businesses tap into Hong Kong’s advantages, OASES provides strategic enterprises with market insights and facilitates connections with key stakeholders who can help open doors to new opportunities and growth.
The results can be seen in the companies OASES has attracted.
So far, it has attracted 102 enterprises that are expected to invest around HK$60 billion (US$7.7 billion) in the city, creating around 22,000 jobs. About half of these enterprises have been listed in Hong Kong, while over 10 per cent are planning to IPO.
One of them is Keeta, a subsidiary of Chinese food delivery platform Meituan, which launched in Hong Kong in 2023. In the two years since, the city’s food delivery has nearly doubled in size.
In particular, Meituan looked to use the city as a springboard for its global expansion, testing out an international operation model through Keeta, which captured 44 per cent of market share within a year of its launch. It then replicated proven strategies for expansion to other markets like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Brazil.
OASES supported this by introducing the company to policy frameworks, business chambers and partners, while also assisting with practical needs like employee work visas, helping the enterprise to quickly understand the nuances of operating in the city.
There’s also WeBank, a digital bank that set up its tech company headquarters in Hong Kong in 2024. It plans to invest up to HK$1.17 billion (US$150 million), using the city as a base for R&D activities and to deliver tech solutions for the global arena, particularly across Belt and Road markets.
WeBank acknowledged that government support has enabled the digital bank to recruit highly-skilled local professionals essential for driving its international expansion.
In the span of one year that WeBank has been in Hong Kong, OASES acted as its navigator. Through comprehensive support, OASES has ensured that strategic enterprises not only land successfully in the city but also integrate seamlessly into the local innovation and technology and industry ecosystem.
As Hong Kong enters a new chapter, OASES continues to play a role in bringing in and supporting companies across sectors, helping translate the city’s advantages into growth, leveraging proven success with helping strategic enterprises thrive in Hong Kong and beyond.
With this support, connections and insights, enterprises can then transform their business ambitions into tangible outcomes, with Hong Kong as the platform for lasting success.
Established in 2022 under the HKSAR Financial Secretary’s Office, OASES aims to help enterprises leverage all that Hong Kong has to offer in their pursuit of growth opportunities. The government office’s one-stop support services range from tailored facilitation to navigating regulatory approvals and connecting enterprises with industry players, investors, research institutions, academia and government departments. It also provides a streamlined path for international expansion.
To learn more about how the city can help your business, connect with OASES here.
This content was first published in Tech in Asia.
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