More than 90 per cent of mainland Chinese enterprises plan to expand overseas within the next two years, with over 80 per cent aiming to use Hong Kong as their launch pad into Southeast Asia, a survey has found. The research findings, published by the Trade Development Council on Wednesday, indicate that mainland firms are actively pursuing diversified footprints across Asean markets. The survey, conducted from January to February 2026, polled more than 2,000 mainland Chinese companies across various sectors, including manufacturing and services. Photo: Jonathan Wong“Asean has become a priority destination for mainland enterprises pursuing international growth. Pang said that among Asean markets, Malaysia was attracting significant interest from mainland enterprises, ranking as a leading destination for both manufacturing and service companies seeking to expand regional operations.