Gateway to Growth: Hong Kong Invites Indian Investors to Tap Asian Markets
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is stepping up its outreach in India, positioning itself as the premier springboard for Indian companies seeking expansion into Greater China, North Asia and Southeast Asia. From April 20 to 24, Charles Ng, Associate Director General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), led a high profile delegation to Mumbai and New Delhi, underscoring Hong Kong's strategic advantages in a shifting global economy.
Hong Kong's appeal rests on a suite of business friendly attributes: simple and low taxation, clear and transparent regulations, unfettered capital flows, and world class capital markets. “As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is not only a major start up base but also hosts numerous high net worth families seeking diversified investment opportunities,” Ng told attendees at the “Gateway to Growth” seminar. He highlighted Hong Kong's ecosystem of nearly 4,700 start upsin fields such as artificial intelligence, healthtech, fintech and Web3, which offers Indian entrepreneurs both innovation partners and potential co investors.
Trade Ties and Community Links
According to the HKSAR government, bilateral trade between Hong Kong and India reached US $26 billionin 2024, making India Hong Kong's ninth largest trading partner. The city is also home to more than 42,000members of the Indian community, reflecting deep social and commercial connections that facilitate market entry and cross border collaboration.
Strategic Advantages for Indian Firms
Ng emphasized two pillars of Hong Kong's value proposition:
·Gateway to Mainland and Beyond
With its unique legal framework under “One Country, Two Systems,” Hong Kong provides secure market access to Mainland China's vast consumer base and burgeoning services sector. Its free flowing capital regime and robust financial infrastructure make it the ideal hub for fund raising, mergers and acquisitions, and cross border portfolio investment.
·Quality of Life and Talent Magnet
The recently launched New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme offers high net worth individuals and their families an attractive residency pathway, combining streamlined visa processing with access to world class education, healthcare and lifestyle amenities. This residency option eases the relocation of key personnel and underpins longer-term business commitments.
Relevance for Non -Chinese Stakeholders
For banks and investment firms, Hong Kong's deep bond and equities markets offer a familiar environment to structure cross -border financing and derivatives solutions. Export credit insurers and trade finance providers can leverage Hong Kong's regulatory certainty and strong rule of law reputation to underwrite larger and more complex transactions. Legal and accounting firms with international expertise will find growing demand for advisory services on regulatory compliance, tax planning and corporate structuring across Greater China and Southeast Asia. Even HR professionals will be needed to navigate talent mobility, advising on relocation packages, local hiring regulations and cultural integration.
Voices from the Event
At the Mumbai seminar, several senior executives from India's technology and finance sectors expressed keen interest in establishing regional headquarters in Hong Kong. “Hong Kong's proximity to Mainland innovation clusters, combined with its transparent regulatory regime, gives our clients confidence to scale rapidly,” said a senior partner at a leading Mumbai based private equity firm.
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