Hong Kong's role as a global supply chain management center is becoming increasingly solid, with the reshaping of the regional trade landscape bringing new development opportunities.

Recently, a study published by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council shows that Hong Kong plays a crucial role in the regional supply chain transformation. Leveraging its core advantages of free flow of capital, comprehensive financial services, efficient transportation logistics, and a concentration of professional talents, Hong Kong has become an ideal location for mainland Chinese companies to establish overseas financial centers and multinational supply chain management centers. The InvestHK and HKTDC have jointly established a high-value supply chain service mechanism to provide enterprises with one-stop consulting services, such as research and development support, application and technology assessment, and specialized advice on overseas regulations, to assist enterprises in their overseas expansion. The study further affirms Hong Kong's important position as a "super connector," serving as a core springboard for mainland Chinese companies to expand overseas and a key gateway for global companies entering mainland China and the regional supply chain, holding a significant position in the global supply chain. Mainland Chinese companies are accelerating the diversification of their supply chain layout, with Hong Kong becoming their ideal supply chain management center. According to statistics, over 90% of mainland Chinese companies plan to expand into overseas markets in the next two years, and the proportion of mainland Chinese companies choosing to expand through Hong Kong has increased from 62% in 2023 to 77% last year, indicating the increasingly crucial role Hong Kong plays in assisting mainland Chinese companies in aligning with international standards and exploring overseas markets. As an international financial center, Hong Kong is accelerating the guidance and promotion of two-way capital flow. Investment data shows that by 2024, China's Hong Kong accounted for 35.5% of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia, much higher than mainland China's 0.1%; and in the Indonesian market, the FDI proportion was 13.7%, slightly exceeding mainland China's 13.5%, largely due to mainland Chinese companies choosing to invest overseas through Hong Kong subsidiaries. At the same time, many global companies also choose to enter the mainland Chinese market through Hong Kong, with a total of 1,390 US companies having established businesses in Hong Kong by the end of last June. Hong Kong is steadily advancing the construction of a "bulk commodities trading ecosystem" with significant results. Earlier this year, Hong Kong successfully joined the global warehouse and delivery network of the London Metal Exchange (LME). In less than nine months, along with the eight warehouses previously approved, the total number of LME-approved warehouses in Hong Kong has increased to 11, giving Hong Kong a hardware advantage and helping to make Hong Kong an important delivery hub for the LME in Asia. This fully leverages Hong Kong's comprehensive advantages as an international free port, with zero tariffs, efficient customs clearance, and global logistics connectivity, while ensuring the stable supply of key metal resources in the region. Additionally, the Hong Kong SAR government has set up a dedicated team to comprehensively review the gold financial trading category, with plans to promote Hong Kong as an international gold trading center, including supporting physical gold delivery to further enrich the commodities trading ecosystem.