80% of mainland Chinese firms eye Hong Kong as launch pad for Asean expansion

More than 90 per cent of mainland Chinese enterprises plan to expand overseas within the next two years, with over 80 per cent aiming to use Hong Kong as their launch pad into Southeast Asia, a survey has found.The research findings, published by the Trade Development Council on Wednesday, indicate that mainland firms are actively pursuing diversified footprints across Asean markets.The survey, conducted from January to February 2026, polled more than 2,000 mainland Chinese companies across various sectors, including manufacturing and services.(From left) TDC’s principal economist Wendy Hu, Bruce Pang and senior economist Cherry Yeung at a press briefing on the research. Photo: Jonathan Wong“Asean has become a priority destination for mainland enterprises pursuing international growth. Companies are not only looking to expand their sales networks, but also establishing regional supply chains, investing in higher value-added activities and exploring opportunities in emerging sectors, such as AI [Artificial Intelligence], Semiconductors and New Energy,” said Bruce Pang, the council’s director of research.