Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, has revealed in his latest blog post that the city's direct investment into ASEAN nations reached a total of 16.5 billion US dollars in 2025. This figure represents a remarkable increase of nearly 1.4 times compared to five years ago, now accounting for close to 7% of all foreign direct investment flowing into the ASEAN bloc.
Over the past five years, trade with ASEAN, the Middle East, and Central Asia has grown to represent roughly 17% of Hong Kong's total trade volume. This segment has seen an average annual expansion of almost 10%, with ASEAN having firmly held its position as Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner since 2010.
The 11th Belt and Road Summit, co-organized by the Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, is scheduled to kick off on September 9th. Chan noted that this year's summit will introduce a new dedicated segment focused on global expansion strategies, aiming to further assist mainland Chinese enterprises in taking their businesses overseas. He emphasized that Hong Kong, leveraging the unique advantages of the 'one country, two systems' principle, will strengthen its intermediary role in facilitating both inbound and outbound investments, contributing tangibly to the global community.
In the realm of equity financing, more than 100 companies from Belt and Road partner countries and regions are now listed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, with a combined market valuation exceeding 340 billion Hong Kong dollars. Regarding debt financing, as of July 2026, a total of 82 Belt and Road-related bonds have been listed in Hong Kong, raising more than 470 billion Hong Kong dollars in aggregate capital.
Furthermore, a major international bank from a Gulf state is poised to inaugurate a new office in Hong Kong. Last year, that country's sovereign wealth fund partnered with a local Hong Kong fund to launch an energy transition-focused investment vehicle. Chan also highlighted that Hong Kong has signed comprehensive double taxation avoidance agreements with 43 Belt and Road tax jurisdictions, while its investment and free trade pacts cover 20 and 14 economies, respectively.