Hong Kong
A powerful combination of factors – prime location, high-speed communications, free flow of information, unrestricted capital flows and the world’s freest economy – has made Hong Kong a leading international business and financial center.
Hong Kong ranks high in the world’s leading surveys regarding best business cities, economic freedom, competitiveness, opportunity and ease of doing business.
Due to different types of public and private initiatives especially designed to nurture start-ups and attract talents – government funding schemes, seed capital providers, business development support, design support, promotion platforms, market access, incubation programs and co-work spaces – Hong Kong has become a global launch pad for start-ups. The city offers a robust IP protection regime to effectively protect the fruits of innovation and creativity, as well as professional services in licensing, franchising and IP registration.
International corporations choose Hong Kong as their preferred place in Asia to establish a business or set up an office. Over 8,200 overseas and mainland companies have offices in Hong Kong at present, of which about half are regional headquarters and offices. Hong Kong is keen to attract more overseas enterprises. Various government bodies offer a range of services and support to foreign companies looking to establish themselves there.
Talented people, world-class infrastructure, well-developed international and domestic transport networks, quality business support services and financial infrastructure of the highest world standards enhance Hong Kong’s many advantages.
An important international banking and financial hub, Hong Kong is China’s global financial center. The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect directly links the capital markets of the two places and expedites the internationalization of the Renminbi. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) topped the global IPO rankings from 2009-2011 and in 2015-2016. More than 2,000 companies are listed in Hong Kong with total market capitalization of about US$4 trillion.