The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) held a signing ceremony today (October 9) to welcome a new batch of strategic enterprises establishing or expanding their operations in Hong Kong.

     The ceremony was officiated by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, who welcomed 18 key enterprises to Hong Kong (see Annex). These include three of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies, as well as industry leaders in areas such as large language models for AI, autonomous driving technologies, microelectronics, cross-boundary financial services, and globally influential new media platforms. This new batch of enterprises will not only invest and create employment in Hong Kong but will also set up regional headquarters and launch research and development projects locally, further enhancing Hong Kong's role as an innovation hub.

     With the addition of these enterprises, the total number of strategic enterprise partners attracted by OASES has surpassed 100. Collectively, these companies are expected to bring approximately HK$60 billion in investment and create about 22 000 job opportunities, injecting strong momentum into the city's economy.

     In his speech, Mr Chan noted that this new batch of strategic enterprises brings not only investment and employment but also transformative ideas and technologies that will further enrich Hong Kong's fast-evolving innovation and technology ecosystem. 

     Mr Chan said, "In Hong Kong, strategic enterprises will find the capital, talent, partners, ecosystems and networks that will help them succeed. The deepening collaboration between Hong Kong and the sister cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) also offers tremendous growth opportunities, particularly for those in sectors such as AI, biotech and new energy. A highlight of this collaboration is the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which will serve as a testing ground for innovative policies, including the unimpeded flow of critical factors of production, including people, capital, goods and data.

     "Attracting cultural and creative enterprises that integrate technology with artistry and entertainment is an initiative announced in this year's Budget. The global digital entertainment market is growing rapidly, powered by IPs (intellectual properties), AI and Web3. Hong Kong - with our unique connectivity to both the Chinese Mainland and the world, openness and diversity as an international city, and a vibrant ecosystem in innovation and technology - is an ideal launchpad for these enterprises to grow and scale across Asia and beyond," he said.

     GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a newly onboarded strategic enterprise, stated that Hong Kong's position in the GBA makes it an ideal base connecting the Chinese Mainland. Leveraging this advantage, GSK aims to expand innovative drug registrations, apply big data to support market access and healthcare policy, and deepen collaboration with local research institutions and universities. Roche, another global top 10 pharmaceutical company included in the new batch, remarked that policy measures such as the arrangement for using Hong Kong registered drugs and medical devices in public hospitals within the GBA, offer favourable market access conditions. The Government is also supporting Roche in exploring collaborative initiatives in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, including the development of a laboratory, to further strengthen Hong Kong's biomedical innovation capabilities.
      
     The Director-General of OASES, Mr Peter Yan, said that the latest batch brings the total number of strategic enterprises to over 100, including three of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies, demonstrating Hong Kong's strong international appeal in innovation and life and health technology. Mr Yan noted that the presence of leading pharmas aligns with the Policy Address and supports Hong Kong's development as a key base for clinical research and drug innovation. With 40 per cent of the new enterprises from overseas, Hong Kong's status as a global I&T hub in the GBA continues to strengthen, leveraging its unique role as a "super connector" between the Chinese Mainland and the world.

     In addition to keep on proactively attracting more high-potential and representative strategic enterprises to establish and expand their operations in Hong Kong, OASES will strengthen collaboration with relevant government departments to support the development of enterprises in Hong Kong, accelerate economic transformation, and further reinforce Hong Kong's position as a global innovation hub.

Ends/Thursday, October 9, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:35

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