Hong Kong's economy demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2025, with official data revealing unprecedented growth in both multinational corporate presence and startup activity. The latest government surveys show 11,070 companies now maintain regional operations through Hong Kong-based subsidiaries – a 12% increase from 2024 figures – while the startup ecosystem expanded to 5,221 registered ventures.
Financial technology continues to dominate Hong Kong's innovation landscape, accounting for 28% of all startups. The biotechnology sector saw particularly strong growth, with emerging companies developing gene therapies and sustainable agriculture solutions attracting significant overseas investment. Four Hong Kong-listed companies secured positions among 2025's top 10 global IPOs, maintaining the region's leadership in capital market fundraising.
Invest Hong Kong played a pivotal role in this expansion, facilitating 560 new market entries and business expansions last year. Nearly 40% of these investments originated from the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia, with artificial intelligence infrastructure and green finance emerging as priority sectors.
"This growth trajectory confirms Hong Kong's unique position as Asia's innovation bridge," noted financial analyst Li Wei. "The convergence of international capital, mainland manufacturing capabilities, and Western research expertise creates an unmatched ecosystem for commercializing next-generation technologies."
As global economic headwinds persist through early 2026, Hong Kong's business community remains cautiously optimistic. The Special Administrative Region government has announced plans to launch new regulatory sandboxes for blockchain applications and medical AI development later this quarter.
