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虹桥枢纽为中国企业“出海”铺平道路 - 2026年04月13日
Hongqiao hub paves the way for Chinese firms expanding overseas
The Hongqiao Overseas Development Service Center stands among lush greenery in the Hongqiao International Central Business District.
Shanghai's Hongqiao business district has become the primary launchpad for Chinese companies seeking global expansion.
The central business district provides legal, logistical, and administrative services to guide businesses across the Yangtze River Delta into foreign markets.
The Hongqiao Overseas Development Service Center hosted 382 global outreach events last year. It assisted more than 3,500 companies, with nearly half coming from outside Shanghai. The center has already helped over 140 enterprises establish operations abroad.
"Many companies blindly rush abroad without knowing their target market," said Zhu Yinghua, director of the service center.
"We integrate top domestic and international agencies to provide a one-stop service and help them avoid costly mistakes."
An increasing number of Chinese firms face intense domestic competition. They are looking to markets in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East for growth.
But strict regulations, talent shortages, and unfamiliar legal frameworks often create roadblocks. The Hongqiao hub aims to remove these barriers by centralizing the resources companies need to operate globally, Zhu said.
The reception area of the Hongqiao International Talent Service Center features digital displays highlighting regional industrial trends.
Wego Group, a medical device maker that began operations in Shandong Province in 1988, opened its second headquarters in Hongqiao to expand its global operations.
"Obtaining overseas certification is a significant challenge," said Wen Sailan, head of industrial operations at Wego Group. "Hongqiao connects us to trustworthy agencies. This speeds up our expansion."
Wego registered 25 international products in 2025. Its international sales increased by approximately 60 percent.
The company also established a joint venture factory in Indonesia in November 2025 to produce medical supplies for Southeast Asia.
Wen said Hongqiao's location and international environment draw global customers. The world's busiest integrated transport terminal is Hongqiao Transportation Hub. Over 1.15 million people traveled daily in 2025, totaling 422 million. Daily peaks reached 1.71 million, a record.
Following a major medical equipment exhibition last year, Wego invited over 100 foreign agents to its Hongqiao headquarters to plan global strategies.
Apart from matching companies with legal and financial consultants, the center tackles administrative hurdles.
It operates 24-hour smart endorsement machines for Hong Kong and Macau travel permits. It also fast-tracks APEC business travel cards, allowing executives to fly out quickly to negotiate deals.
A large KPMG logo at the entrance of the global accounting firm's office in Hongqiao.
The streamlined services help a diverse range of industries.
Phoenix Bicycle, a time-honored Shanghai brand, for instance, faced trade barriers and tariffs in Western markets.
The company used Hongqiao's network to set up a factory in Indonesia and a joint venture in Bulgaria. The localized production allowed Phoenix to bypass tariffs and successfully sell e-bikes in Europe.
Similarly, beef noodle chain Chen Xianggui used the center's services to register its trademark in 46 countries. The restaurant chain then expanded into Europe, intentionally bypassing the crowded Southeast Asian market.
Zhu noted that smaller companies often lack the resources to handle international laws or intellectual property rights. To address this, the center brings together smaller firms and established industry leaders.
Wego Group now hosts a dedicated medical device-export ecosystem within its 180,000-square-meter park in Hongqiao. The company shares its global network with smaller medical startups located in the same space.
"They want to sell products overseas, but they do not know how to protect their intellectual property," Zhu said.
"We help them understand the rules of the game so they can compete on the global stage."
The modern, open-plan workspace inside the Hongqiao Overseas Development Service Center.
Source: City News Service
