The 2026 Shanghai Enterprise Overseas Expo will kick off in November: In the era of compliance and deepening cultivation, an exhibition will reveal how to make overseas investments

Chinese enterprises' 'going global' is shifting from scale expansion to deep compliance cultivation. Faced with changes in the global market, more and more domestic enterprises are turning their attention to overseas markets. At the same time, the filing process for overseas investment, the outflow of funds, cross-border taxation, and other aspects have also become unavoidable issues on the sea route. From November 20th to 22nd, 2026, the Overseas Immigrant Study and Property Expo, as well as the Enterprise Overseas Development and Financial Services Expo, will be held at the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center for three days, expected to attract about 8000 professional visitors. This year's expo has set up a "Enterprise Going Global" section to provide a one-stop resource docking platform for Chinese companies planning to go global.

1、 The demand for enterprises to go global is still high, with growth and compliance going hand in hand

From macro data, the demand for enterprises to go global is still strong. According to data jointly released by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, China's outward direct investment flow in 2024 was approximately 192.2 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 8.4%, ranking among the top global outward investment scales for several consecutive years. Entering 2026, the industry's outward direct investment continues to grow, with approximately 86.5 billion US dollars in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 8.1%. Among them, the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" is the key direction of the layout of Chinese enterprises, and non-financial direct investment accounted for a considerable proportion of the total amount of the same period.

Behind the data lies the true expectations of enterprises for overseas markets: expanding sales radius, acquiring technology and management experience, being close to the supply chain, and diversifying risks in a single market. But going abroad is not simply about "moving business overseas". From project approval to capital outflow, from company establishment to local operation, every step is accompanied by compliance and management challenges.

2、 Several hurdles that cannot be bypassed when going abroad: filing, funding, and professional services

Overseas investment (ODI) filing is a common prerequisite for enterprises to go global. When domestic enterprises directly or indirectly acquire ownership, control or management rights of overseas companies through new establishment, mergers and acquisitions, equity participation and other means, they usually need to apply for filing or approval from the development and reform department and the competent commerce department, and handle foreign exchange registration. According to relevant regulatory standards, funds that have not been registered or approved for export may be deemed as illegal foreign exchange outflows, posing hidden dangers to enterprise operations. This is also why many companies, after suffering losses in "heavy investment and light compliance", have begun to pay extra attention to the filing process.

In addition to filing, overseas enterprises generally face several problems: firstly, unfamiliarity with the legal and tax environment of the target country, which can easily lead to hidden costs; Secondly, the path and compliance requirements for cross-border capital flows are not clear enough; Thirdly, localized operations lack market, channel, and talent support; Fourthly, there is a lack of corresponding services in professional fields such as intellectual property, labor employment, and data compliance. The commonality of these problems is that it is often difficult for companies to solve them quickly on their own, and they need to rely on professional institutions and mature resource networks.

3、 Expo Enterprise Overseas Segment: Delivering Resources to Enterprises

The "Enterprise Going Global" section of this expo is designed to address these pain points. The exhibition will gather institutions and experts engaged in overseas investment consulting, cross-border finance, foreign-related law, international finance and taxation, market research and other services, providing on-site consultation on policy interpretation, investment filing, fund arrangement, target market analysis and other content. Whether it is a manufacturing enterprise going global for the first time, or a growing enterprise preparing to establish branches, carry out mergers and acquisitions, or build a controlling structure overseas, targeted information and advice can be obtained at the exhibition site.

At the same time, the expo also set up related sections such as immigration, study abroad, overseas real estate, and financial services. For enterprises, these sectors are not isolated from each other - overseas operations often come with practical needs such as core team and executive identity arrangements, children's education, and family life. Exhibiting multiple sections at the same venue means that companies can collect multiple pieces of information in one place, reducing repetitive trips.

4、 The value and role of enterprise participation in exhibitions

For companies interested in going global, participating in this expo can provide several practical benefits:

Firstly, concentrate on connecting resources and reduce information costs. The exhibition brings together policy service agencies, financial institutions, legal and financial advisors on the same site, allowing companies to compare horizontally and quickly establish connections without the need for door-to-door consultation.

Secondly, understand policy and market trends. The overseas investment policy is undergoing continuous adjustment, and professional interpretation on site can help enterprises grasp the key points of filing and compliance boundaries, reducing the possibility of taking detours.

Thirdly, expand channels and partners. Participating companies can communicate with overseas project partners, service organizations, and potential partners at the same venue, which is beneficial for accumulating the channels and networks needed for overseas operations.

Fourthly, enhance brand and industry visibility. The exhibition opportunity for approximately 8000 professional visitors helps companies showcase their strength and product services to target customers and peers.

Fifth, obtain first-hand industry information and trend judgment. The sharing and communication activities during the exhibition provide an opportunity for participating companies to understand industry trends, exchange views, and analyze the market.

5、 Audience and supporting services

This expo is open for free to visitors who have needs for overseas investment, enterprise going global, identity and family internationalization planning, etc. On site, there are supporting arrangements such as consultation docking, information request, and intention negotiation to help the audience efficiently obtain information. During the exhibition, we will also organize sharing activities on relevant policies and trends. For specific schedules and participation methods, please follow the organizer's subsequent releases.

On site suggestions for exhibiting companies

For companies preparing to participate in the exhibition, it is recommended to sort out their stage of going global and core demands in advance: whether they are preparing to initiate overseas investment, in the stage of filing and fund arrangement, or have already operated overseas and need to supplement local service resources. Exhibiting with clear questions will make on-site communication more efficient. You can also pay attention to the official events and schedule released by the Expo in advance, plan your participation time, and use your time for valuable consultation and negotiation. The multi sector resources gathered during the Expo are also worth paying attention to - overseas operations are often closely related to the identity arrangement of the core team, children's education, and family life, and overall planning is more conducive to the implementation of the overall plan. For companies that are still observing, the site is also a low-cost window to observe peers, understand target markets, and accumulate industry information.

Exhibition Information

2026 Overseas Immigration, Study Abroad, Real Estate, Enterprise Going Global, and Financial Services Expo

Time: November 20-22, 2026, for a period of three days

Location: Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center

Scale: Expected to accumulate approximately 8000 professional visitors in three days

Exhibition Hotline: 13681692751 (same as WeChat)

Official website: www.qs-expo.com

Welcome enterprises interested in expanding overseas markets and individuals interested in overseas investment to visit, consult and negotiate on-site