How do ODI companies start going global? The Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center in November 2026 will provide a docking answer for this expo

Enterprises going global cannot avoid one word - ODI filing. Whether it is establishing overseas subsidiaries, acquiring equity of overseas companies, or participating in cross-border cooperation projects, in order for funds to exit the country in compliance, corresponding overseas investment filing or approval procedures need to be completed first. For many private enterprises preparing to go global, this is not only a prerequisite on the road to going global, but also a step in the concentration of information gaps: which lines of the process to follow, to what extent materials need to be prepared, and how long the cycle is roughly, often requiring repeated consultations and corrections to understand.

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, with an estimated 8000 visitors. The ODI enterprise going global section of the exhibition brings together service institutions in the fields of filing consultation, legal compliance, cross-border finance, etc., providing a one-stop docking window for various enterprises preparing to go global.

For overseas enterprises, filing is just the starting point, and subsequent architecture design, funding arrangements, and local compliance also need to be laid out in advance. This expo hopes to put these aspects on the same table, allowing enterprises to ask questions and connect with each other in one go, and to include both the 'first half' and 'second half' of going global in their vision.

1、 Why is ODI filing a prerequisite for going global

From the perspective of regulatory framework, overseas direct investment by enterprises usually involves registration or approval by the competent commerce department, registration or approval by the development and reform department, and foreign exchange registration. The establishment of this program is to ensure that every cross-border investment has a genuine business background, compliant funding sources, and complete project information, and to provide institutional oversight for the outflow of funds.

The significance for enterprises is very direct: if the filing process is not completed, funds cannot exit the country in compliance; If the process sequence is reversed, subsequent foreign exchange registration and fund remittance may be hindered. In other words, ODI filing is not an optional option, but a fundamental action in the arrangement of overseas funds for enterprises. By thinking through this process clearly, companies can plan their overseas pace more calmly, rather than rushing to remedy the situation when funds leave the country.

2、 Filing process and common checkpoints

The overall process roughly includes: internal decision-making of the enterprise (formed by the shareholders' meeting or board of directors to approve overseas investment) → material preparation (business license, articles of association, audit report, proof of funding source, investment agreement, etc.) → project filing or approval by the development and reform department → filing or approval by the commerce department → foreign exchange registration → fund remittance.

Based on actual feedback from enterprises, common bottlenecks are concentrated in three areas. One is that the material preparation is incomplete or the front and rear calibers are inconsistent, and repeated corrections are time-consuming and labor-intensive; The second issue is that the explanation of the investment plan is not clear enough, and the authenticity and necessity are not fully demonstrated, making it easy to backtrack during the review process; Thirdly, there is a deviation in understanding the sequence of processes and the responsibilities of different supervisory departments, leading to a reversal. The commonality of these problems is information asymmetry - the requirements for each link are well documented, but scattered in different documents of different departments, and the enterprise sorts them out item by item, which is time-consuming and easy to miss.

3、 How can exhibitions help companies avoid detours

The ODI enterprise overseas section of this expo will invite professional institutions in the fields of overseas services, law, finance and taxation, cross-border finance, etc. to participate. For enterprises, on-site value is reflected in several aspects:

Firstly, centralized consultation. High frequency issues such as filing procedures, key material points, compliance requirements, etc. can be asked to multiple institutions at once to compare service plans and fee standards face-to-face, reducing the cost of back and forth phone communication. Many institutions will provide preliminary assessments on site, bringing basic information of the enterprise, and can make a rough judgment on the feasibility of the project on the spot.

Secondly, information synchronization. Understand the current policy trends in cross-border investment filing and foreign exchange management at the exhibition site, and reduce the judgment bias caused by policy information lag.

Thirdly, service integration. From filing agency and legal due diligence to fund arrangement, service agencies on the overseas chain have emerged in a concentrated manner. Enterprises can choose and combine them according to their needs, and build their own overseas service list at once.

Fourthly, peer communication. Face to face communication with other business leaders who are preparing to go abroad or have experience in going abroad, and listen to their real experiences in practice, which is more informative than groping behind closed doors.

4、 The benefits of exhibiting and visiting enterprises

For entrepreneurs and overseas business leaders, arranging a day to visit exhibitions results in a systematic information review.

Save time. Usually, it takes scheduling and waiting to schedule appointments with one institution. Dozens of institutions are also present at the exhibition site, and the consultation volume that usually takes several weeks to complete can be completed in one afternoon.

Save trial and error. The qualifications, service scope, and pricing methods of the institution can be inquired in person, and whether the service content matches one's own project can be preliminarily judged by just a few words, reducing the detours of 'asking around and discovering the wrong direction'.

Fill in blind spots. Many companies only focus on the filing process itself, neglecting subsequent steps such as foreign exchange registration, tax arrangements, and cross-border settlements. Financial and tax institutions at the exhibition can catch up on this lesson and prepare for the 'second half' of going global.

Establish a connection. Leave a connection channel on site, and continue to follow up after the exhibition, truly turning 'acquaintances' into 'useful' service resources.

5、 Several suggestions for companies preparing to go abroad

Firstly, sort out the investment decisions and basic materials within the enterprise, and then bring specific questions to the site for more targeted consultation, and the suggestions given by the institution will be more practical.

Secondly, don't just ask one institution, compare multiple institutions before determining the service plan, and focus on the qualifications, service experience, and cost transparency of the institutions.

Thirdly, consider filing, foreign exchange, taxation, and law comprehensively, avoiding taking one step at a time and leaving interfaces for each arrangement for subsequent stages.

Fourthly, all policy and project information shall be subject to the latest regulations of the competent authorities and project parties. The information on the exhibition site is for reference only.

Exhibition hotline: 13681692751 (same as WeChat); Official website: www.qs-expo.com. Whether you want to learn about the exhibition opportunities for ODI enterprises in the overseas section or wish to make an appointment for on-site professional consultation, you can contact the organizing committee of this expo through the above channels. The exhibitor list and event schedule will be updated on the official website gradually. Follow the official website for the latest arrangements.