The Situation

Provide a dedicated team to represent Invest Hong Kong in Thailand and proactively identify and attract companies in targeted sectors with a high potential to invest in Hong Kong

  • Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) is the department of the Hong Kong S.A.R. government responsible for Foreign Direct Investment, supporting overseas businesses to invest in Hong Kong.
  • InvestHK provides free customized services and consultancy for foreign businesses and companies who want expand in or set-up new businesses in Hong Kong.
  • Invest Hong Kong has a team of Investment Officers organized into nine specialist sector teams covering Hong Kong’s pillar industries and new growth sectors: Business & Professional Services; Consumer Products; Creative
  • Industries; Financial Services; Information & Communications Technology; Innovation & Technology; Tourism & Hospitality; Transport & Industrial; Start Up Business.
  • Without a dedicated team in-country, InvestHK was reacting to interest from Thai companies that wanted to invest in the S.A.R and management felt that a dedicated team was necessary to maximize the potential of attracting investment from Thailand.

The Project

Develop and implement a systematic targeted investment attraction strategy to identify Thai companies with the highest potential to invest in Hong Kong

  • Tractus formed a dedicated project team to work closely with InvestHK management to provide support for legacy relationships with Thai companies that had already contacted InvestHK for assistance with possible investments.
  • Information on investing in Hong Kong was provided to potential Thai investors from InvestHK’s sector teams, who introduced these investors to appropriate specialist legal, tax, accounting, corporate secretarial, real estate and other firms who could provide dedicated start-up assistance. Having a dedicated Thai team on the ground ensured that this assistance was provided in a much more timely manner than in the past.
  • InvestHK’s objective was to identify and assist investors interested in not only establishing a company, but employing staff in Hong Kong.
  • Tractus developed an objective, research-based methodology for identifying the universe of Thai companies with the financial capability to invest in Hong Kong and hire dedicated personnel. The Tractus team’s lead generation strategy focused on all publicly-listed companies as well as those majority Thai-owned private sector firms with annual revenues in excess of US$5 million.
  • In addition, we identified multiplier organizations that we could leverage in the company identification process. These multipliers included other Thai government agencies to promote Thai businesses who were interested in outbound investment to Hong Kong.
  • The Tractus team attended trade shows and expositions in Thailand were we could meet with Thai companies in targeted sectors to raise awareness of Hong Kong as an investment destination and identify companies that might have an interest and capability to invest.

The Solution

Progression of legacy investors, identification of a pipeline of new investors with a high potential for an ability to invest in Hong Kong and improved awareness of Hong Kong as a high performance investment destination and gateway to the China market.

  • The Tractus InvestHK team created a strong pipeline of potential investors by executing a multi-channel approach that included
    • dedicated follow-up with legacy contacts;
    • attendance at trade shows and exhibitions;
    • the execution of a systematic research-based investor identification process, and;
    • in-person meetings with the highest potential investors.
  • Developed a network of Thai government multiplier organizations to funnel potential investor opportunities to InvestHK
  • Attended and spoke at conferences and exhibitions about investing in Hong Kong to raise awareness of the opportunities.