InvestHK Promotes Hong Kong's Advantages as Global Expansion Platform for Mainland Enterprises in Fujian

InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (September 7) took part in Two-Way Cross-Border Investment Promotion Exchange and High-Quality International Development Matchmaking Session for Going-Global Enterprises hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, held on the eve of the opening of the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen, Fujian Province. In the afternoon, InvestHK, together with the Department of Commerce of Fujian Province and other departments, jointly organised the Fujian enterprises going global and Fujian-Hong Kong economic and trade promotion and exchange seminar. The events encouraged Fujian enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's advantages as an ideal platform for Mainland enterprises to go global, and to leverage Hong Kong fully to achieve high-quality international development under the national Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Fujian-Hong Kong economic and trade co-operation mechanism.

The national 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in leveraging its strengths in professional services to assist enterprises in going global, giving full play to Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world. In October 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and other central authorities issued the "Guiding Opinions on Further Improving the Overseas Comprehensive Service System", which sets out how the advantages of Hong Kong and Macao in cross-border investment and trade, finance and legal services will be harnessed to jointly strengthen the capacity to serve enterprises going global. In February this year, the Ministry of Commerce and the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening co-operation and exchange in the provision of comprehensive overseas services, providing solid top-level policy support for the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force).

Held under the theme "Connecting the World through Hong Kong", the morning promotion and exchange seminar and business matching session was jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce, the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce, InvestHK, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). During the policy interpretation of the seminar, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Investment Administration of the Ministry of Commerce Mr Wu Di explained the policies relating to "bringing in" and "going global", while Associate Director-General of InvestHK Ms Loretta Lee outlined Hong Kong's policies for investment promotion.

MsLee said, "Under the 'one country, two systems' framework, Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, boasts a world-leading capital market that offers convenient and diversified financing channels. It is also deeply integrated with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where complementary strengths facilitate global supply chain management for enterprises. Hong Kong is now actively developing the Northern Metropolis to build a world-class innovation and technology hub. Hong Kong is not only a 'super connector' but also a 'super value-adder' that creates tangible value for enterprises. InvestHK serves as one of the core members of the GoGlobal Task Force, which is steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, providing one-stop, tailored support for enterprises establishing a presence in Hong Kong."

In the afternoon, the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce and the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Commerce, together with members of the GoGlobal Task Force, including InvestHK, the GDETO, and the HKTDC, jointly organised the Fujian-Hong Kong Joining Hands for Win-Win Development Seminar and Fujian Enterprises Going Global and Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Promotion Exchange Seminar. The event was attended and supported by Second-level Inspector of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Commerce Ms Yang Hao and Deputy Director-General of the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce Mr Lin Bendong.

In his welcome remarks at the seminar, the Director of the GDETO, Mr Anthony Li, said, "Exchanges and co-operation between Fujian and Hong Kong enjoy natural advantages and deep-rooted ties. Hong Kong has long been Fujian's largest source of foreign investment, as well as a bridgehead for Fujian enterprises going global. Hong Kong can serve as a 'home port' platform for enterprises going global, helping them guard against risks and operate in compliance throughout the process, while pooling global capital and opening up business opportunities worldwide. Through the trio of the overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, InvestHK and the HKTDC, the GoGlobal Task Force builds bridges for Mainland enterprises in overseas markets and helps them find overseas partners. In early June, the Chief Executive led a delegation to two Central Asian countries. Among the Mainland enterprise representatives on the mission were two Fujian enterprises, which were successfully connected with the Central Asian market, helping them tap new markets under the BRI."

The afternoon's promotion and exchange seminar concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Deputy Director of the GDETO and the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of InvestHK Guangzhou Office, Ms Helen Yip. Representatives from the HKTDC, Hong Kong financial and legal professional services providers, and a representative from a Mainland enterprise using Hong Kong to go global, shared views on how Hong Kong's advantages can empower Fujian enterprises to expand into overseas markets.

Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee delivers a keynote speech entitled "Using Hong Kong as a Bridge to Set Sail Globally" at the Fujian-Hong Kong Joining Hands for Win-Win Development Seminar and Fujian Enterprises Going Global and Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Promotion Exchange Seminar this afternoon (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong and the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong Guangzhou Office, Ms Helen Yip (first left), moderates a panel discussion session at the Fujian-Hong Kong Joining Hands for Win-Win Development Seminar and Fujian Enterprises Going Global and Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Promotion Exchange Seminar this afternoon (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Second-level Inspector of the International Cooperation Department Ms Yang Hao delivers welcome remarks at the Fujian-Hong Kong Joining Hands for Win-Win Development Seminar and Fujian Enterprises Going Global and Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Promotion Exchange Seminar this afternoon (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Director-General of the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce Mr Lin Bendong, delivers welcome remarks at the Fujian-Hong Kong Joining Hands for Win-Win Development Seminar and Fujian Enterprises Going Global and Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Promotion Exchange Seminar this afternoon (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Investment Administration of the Ministry of Commerce Mr Wu Di explains the policies relating to "bringing in" and "going global" at the Connecting the World through Hong Kong - Two-Way Cross-Border Investment Promotion Exchange and High-Quality International Development Matchmaking Session for Going-Global Enterprises, held this morning (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee (sixth left); Second-level Inspector of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Commerce Ms Yang Hao (seventh left); Deputy Director-General of the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce Mr Lin Bendong (sixth right); Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, Mr Anthony Li (seventh right); and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Regional Director for Southern China, Mr Peter Wong (fifth left), and guests take a group photo at the Fujian-Hong Kong Joining Hands for Win-Win Development Seminar and Fujian Enterprises Going Global and Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Promotion Exchange Seminar this afternoon (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Assistant Director-General of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee explains Hong Kong's policies for investment promotion at the Connecting the World through Hong Kong - Two-Way Cross-Border Investment Promotion Exchange and High-Quality International Development Matchmaking Session for Going-Global Enterprises, held this morning (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by FS at Surgical Futures Forum

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Surgical Futures Forum today (November 9):

Professor Samuel Au (Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Robotics), Clara (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, Ms Clara Chan), Geoff (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic, Mr Geoffrey Martha), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is a pleasure to join you at the inaugural Surgical Futures Forum, organised by Cornerstone Robotics. With leaders from the industry, academia and medicine from Hong Kong and around the world, there is much to look forward to in the discussions today.

The theme, "Redefining Access to Surgical Care Through Robotics and Innovation", is well chosen, and it is a demanding one. It asks not only what robot-assisted surgery can achieve, but how many surgeons can perform it, and how many patients can benefit from it.

Twenty-five years ago, a single operation changed our understanding of what surgery could achieve. A surgeon in New York removed the gall bladder of a patient in Strasbourg, France. That was in 2001, when many of us were still using dial-up internet, and opening a photograph on a computer took long enough to make a cup of coffee.

A quarter of a century later, millions of robot-assisted operations are performed every year, and their precision is beyond question. Yet access tells a different story: the industry's own figures show that global adoption remains in single digits.

Surgical robotics has spent 25 years proving what is possible. The next 25 should be about making it accessible to all. Put simply, the first chapter was about precision. The next must be about access.

The challenge now goes beyond the science. Design and cost remain major barriers. Today's mainstream systems are built for the best-resourced hospitals. Their price, their footprint and their training requirements limit where they can be installed and how widely they can be used. That helps explain why global penetration remains below 5 per cent.

If we believe innovation should serve humanity, progress in surgical robotics must mean more than better technology. It must mean reaching more patients. Because behind these barriers are countless people still waiting to benefit. That is why the partnership we celebrate today matters far beyond this room.

In September, Medtronic announced a strategic investment of about US$700 million in Cornerstone Robotics. It also secured distribution rights for the Sentire Surgical System in selected international markets, complementing its own platform. Such a commitment from a global leader in medical technology is a powerful endorsement of Hong Kong's innovation sector. For decades, advanced surgical technology has reached the world from a handful of centres. Today, a new source is on the map. And that is Hong Kong.

This partnership shows that technology developed here can earn the confidence of industry leaders and, through collaboration, reach international markets. It is a milestone for both companies, and another example of Hong Kong's innovation going global.

I was pleased to note that, shortly after the announcement, Sentire was installed at IRCAD (Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l'Appareil Digestif) in Strasbourg, one of the world's leading centres for surgical training. Twenty-five years ago, Strasbourg was where the patient lay in that pioneering transatlantic operation. Today, the robotic system developed in Hong Kong is there, ready to train surgeons from around the world. Having proven the technology, the task now is to spread it, and that work is gaining momentum.

Hong Kong is known for connecting capital from the Mainland and the rest of the world. In medical technology, our role goes further: we help bring new treatments to patients and open markets for innovators. Let me explain.

The journey from laboratory to operating theatre can easily take a decade, with each stage calling for a different kind of capital. The Hong Kong Investment Corporation is our flagship for patient capital, helping promising businesses grow.

Our listing regime for biotech companies also enables businesses still at research and development stage to raise funds from global investors. Since the reform in 2018, more than 90 such companies have listed here, making Hong Kong the world's second-largest centre for biotechnology fundraising. Surgical robotics companies are among them. From the first cheque to the ringing of the listing bell, Hong Kong supports innovators every step of their journey.

Our regulatory framework is also advancing. Within this year, the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation will be established, bringing us a step closer to independent assessment of drugs and medical devices. Under the Medicine and Equipment Connect, 100 medical devices used in Hong Kong have been approved for use at 71 designated institutions across the Greater Bay Area, and this is only the first step. Clinical data generated here are now accepted by the National Medical Products Administration. In other words, a product validated in Hong Kong has a bridge to go to the Greater Bay Area and a pathway to international markets as well as our own national recognition.

At Hetao, the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute and the Shenzhen Park have jointly established a cross-boundary platform for clinical trials. It enables the use of data and biological samples on both sides of the boundary, helping to accelerate research on drugs and medical devices.

None of this is possible without people. Our two medical schools both rank among the world's top 30. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is establishing the third one, with research and innovation at its core. Capital, regulation, clinical expertise and talent reinforce one another. Together, they are helping to build Hong Kong into an international hub for medical device innovation.

Hong Kong is determined to bring medical innovations to more patients, and artificial intelligence has an important part to play. AI can guide surgeons and help them sharpen their skills. Today's forum will also explore how we train the next generation of surgeons, an area people and technology can achieve much together.

Last year, our country launched its AI+ Initiative, and people's well-being is one of six priorities; and the initiative calls for AI to strengthen primary healthcare. "AI+" was also featured prominently in Hong Kong's own Five-Year Plan, with healthcare among the first sectors targeted for co-ordinated action. Our public hospitals are already using AI to analyse pathology slides and medical images, and to identify patients at risk so that care teams can act earlier.

Surgical robots have their strengths. They do not ask for a day off, and they do not tire, don't even need to go to the toilet. But they cannot - at least not yet - bring together insights from different medical disciplines or make judgements that take full account of a patient's feelings and concerns. Surgical robotics can be a model of people and technology working together. And one measure of success will be whether patients, wherever they live, can benefit from the same high standard of surgical care.

Innovation is not an end in itself. Its purpose is to improve the lives of patients. I look forward to working with you towards that goal. I wish the inaugural Surgical Futures Forum every success, and all of you a rewarding day, and the best of health and wishes. Thank you.

Source: AI-found images