Analysis of the Full Process of Going Global and ODI Filing for Enterprises in 2026: How to Safely Take the First Step in Cross border Investment

1、 Going global is becoming an increasingly popular choice for more and more enterprises

On July 1, 2026, the first administrative regulation in China's outbound investment field, the 'Regulations of the State Council on Outbound Investment,' was officially implemented. This document, issued in the form of a State Council decree, integrates regulations that were previously scattered across different departments into a single set of rules, and shifts regulatory thinking from focusing on access and capital management to placing greater emphasis on risk governance, compliant operations, and high-quality development.

For enterprises, the rules have become clearer and the requirements have become stricter. According to publicly available statistical data, China's stock of outward direct investment has consistently ranked among the top three in the world for many years, with investments in over 190 countries and regions; Along the joint construction of the 'the Belt and Road', the newly signed contract amount and its proportion in the whole are also continuously increasing. Whether it is manufacturing companies setting up factories in Southeast Asia or trading companies expanding their distribution channels to the Middle East and Europe, going global has become a realistic path for many small and medium-sized enterprises, rather than a choice for a few large enterprises.

2、 ODI filing: the first step that enterprises cannot avoid when going global

Enterprises conducting overseas direct investment usually need to go through several interconnected links. The development and reform department approves or records enterprise investment projects, the commerce department approves or records overseas investment enterprises and issues corresponding certificates, and the foreign exchange management department is responsible for relevant foreign exchange registration procedures. In terms of common types, establishing a new company overseas, acquiring equity in overseas enterprises, and adding investment to existing overseas companies all involve corresponding procedures, and the level and duration of processing vary depending on the nature of the project.

For first-time overseas enterprises, this process itself is not complicated, but it is prone to repeated rework due to lack of understanding of the order, incomplete material preparation, and inconsistent understanding of the requirements of different departments. How to register preliminary expenses, handle foreign exchange registration, and submit existing equity are all common problems encountered in practical implementation, and they are also the areas where enterprises need professional support the most.

3、 Under the new regulations, compliance has become a key variable for going global

After the implementation of the new regulations on foreign investment, regulators emphasize 'full cycle' management: from early investment decisions and registration, to mid-term capital outflow and project operation, to later stock equity registration, all are included in a unified framework. For enterprises, compliance is no longer an optional process, but the foundation that affects whether funds can be smoothly remitted and whether projects can continue to operate.

Industry observers have pointed out that the overall orientation of the new regulations is 'compliance convenience'. Enterprises that prioritize compliance work and complete filing procedures and tax architecture design before going global often have a more stable path in capital outflow, bank account opening, and subsequent operations; On the contrary, making temporary changes while on the go may incur higher time and financial costs.

For enterprise overseas teams, special attention should be paid to several practical details: whether the upfront fees can be remitted in advance and need to be registered separately; After the project is implemented, how to submit the annual stock equity should also be included in the annual work arrangement; The centralized operation involving cross-border funds also needs to meet corresponding applicable conditions. These details may not be complicated when viewed individually, but due to the involvement of multiple departments and time points, they are easily overlooked by first-time overseas enterprises.

4、 On the way out to sea, resource dispersion is a common pain point

A company that truly goes global faces much more than just filing procedures. The legal environment, tax policies, bank account opening, employment and manpower arrangements, and local partners of the destination country require professional institutional support in every aspect. Most enterprises do not have the energy to screen service providers one by one, and it is difficult to timely grasp policy changes, which is the real cost brought about by information asymmetry.

This decentralization is also reflected in information acquisition: enterprises need to compare back and forth between different platforms and channels in order to come up with relatively complete solutions. For enterprises planning to go global, being able to access filing consulting, foreign-related legal, cross-border finance and taxation, international banking, and local landing service agencies in a relatively centralized field is itself an efficiency improvement.

Another easily overlooked reality is that there are significant differences between destinations for going out to sea. Both Southeast Asia and the Middle East have vastly different rules regarding land, employment, and taxation when it comes to setting up factories; Both Europe and Latin America have their own ways of entering the market by laying out sales channels. Enterprises can only obtain targeted solutions based on their own industry and target market, which also highlights the importance of professional information and on-site communication.

5、 How to help companies put together resources at an expo

The 2026 Shanghai Overseas Immigration, Study Abroad, Real Estate and Enterprise Overseas and Cross border Cooperation Expo is a one-stop platform built for such needs. The Expo sets up a section for enterprise overseas and cross-border financial services, gathering service institutions such as filing consultation, foreign-related law, cross-border finance and taxation, international banking, and local landing.

For exhibiting companies, the value lies in consolidating dispersed overseas service providers into one venue for on-site comparison and face-to-face communication, reducing back and forth travel, and facilitating the display of their own capabilities, reaching target customers, and establishing long-term cooperation channels. For enterprises planning to go global, they can obtain first-hand information on the filing process, compliance points, and capital outflow in one go, and directly communicate with professional institutions. For consulting, legal, financial and other service institutions, it is a concentrated window to reach a large number of target customers and showcase professional capabilities.

There are also various forms of communication available on site: companies can directly learn about the service scope and handling cases of institutions at the booth, or make appointments for one-on-one consultations to obtain preliminary evaluations of their own projects. For companies that are new to overseas affairs, this approach of 'listening to introductions first and then delving deeper' is easier to put information into practice than simply flipping through materials.

The three-day exhibition is expected to receive approximately 8000 visitors, covering business owners, high net worth families, and professionals interested in cross-border affairs, with a high degree of matching between visitors and exhibitors.

6、 What can be gained from exhibiting and visiting

For enterprise exhibitors, the core gains are customers and channels: directly connecting with business owners who have real overseas needs on site, shortening the business expansion cycle; At the same time, leveraging the exhibition platform to enhance the brand's visibility in the cross-border service field and forming a cooperative network with upstream and downstream institutions.

For individual and corporate visitors, the core takeaway is information and choice: comparing multiple filing and service agencies at once, verifying qualifications and cases, and avoiding making decisions without complete information; It is also possible to obtain preliminary evaluations of specific projects on site, laying a solid foundation for subsequent formal processing.

In addition, the value of exhibitions is also reflected in their sustainability and scalability. During the three-day extension period, companies can communicate and compare repeatedly around a single goal, without having to arrange their schedules separately like in daily life; The connections established on-site can also be transformed into sustained cooperation and service relationships after the exhibition. For service agencies and enterprises planning to go global, this is a relatively concentrated opportunity for business docking.

The Expo will be held from November 20th to 22nd, 2026 at the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center, lasting for three days. Individuals and companies interested in learning about corporate overseas expansion, ODI filing, and cross-border financial services can call the exhibition hotline 13681692751 (same as WeChat) for consultation, or visit the official website www.qs-expo.com for the latest information.