How can enterprises go global in compliance and stability? ODI Filing as a Compulsory Course - One stop Connection to Overseas Resources at the Shanghai Expo in November

On July 1, 2026, the State Council's Regulations on Outward Investment officially came into effect. As the first administrative regulation in China specifically regulating outbound investment activities, it integrates rules that were previously scattered across different departments and documents into a single framework, and places 'service, protection, and compliance' in a more important position. For Chinese companies planning to go global, this is not only a rule review, but also an opportunity to re-examine their own path of going global. Compliance is becoming the first step towards going global and the least step that should be bypassed.

Why has the topic of companies going global been particularly hot in the past two years

Against the backdrop of globalization and deep evolution of industrial division of labor, more and more companies are turning their attention overseas: some are expanding into new markets and getting closer to customers, some are integrating supply chains and getting closer to resources, and some are enhancing the internationalization level of their brands and production capacity. At the same time, the support from the national and local governments for comprehensive overseas services continues to increase, the special work mechanism for 'going global' is constantly improving, and the overseas services for enterprises are becoming increasingly systematic. For enterprises, opportunities are increasing, but the corresponding rules, risks, and preparation work are also increasing. Going global is no longer a simple 'decision', but a set of abilities that require serious management.

There are more and more forms of enterprises going global, and the rules are becoming clearer

In the past few years, the forms of Chinese enterprises going global have become rich and diverse: some have established production bases in Southeast Asia, some have built overseas shareholding platforms in Hong Kong, some have laid out overseas warehouses, and some have set up overseas sales entities. Regardless of the method used, as long as it involves domestic enterprises conducting business activities through the establishment, acquisition, or control of overseas enterprises, it often falls within the scope of foreign investment supervision. The new regulations clarify the scope of outbound investment, unify the requirements for approval and filing, information reporting, cross-border fund registration, and other links, providing clearer guidance for enterprises to 'go global' and making 'how to go global more compliant' a new challenge that enterprises must face.

What exactly is ODI filing

ODI， Simply put, it refers to overseas direct investment. Domestic enterprises setting up companies, participating in equity, conducting mergers and acquisitions, or increasing capital overseas usually need to go through approval or filing procedures based on the sensitivity of the investment region and industry, and then be separately reviewed by departments such as development and reform, commerce, and foreign exchange. For enterprises, the most crucial thing is to clarify three questions in advance: which situation their investment belongs to, which channel they need to take, and to what extent the materials need to be prepared. If these issues are not sorted out clearly before going abroad, they often encounter problems in the subsequent stages of capital outflow, operation, and profit return.

Before going global, companies can do these things first

Firstly, clarify the investment path. Whether to establish subsidiaries, engage in joint ventures, or acquire and build overseas warehouses, the corresponding compliance processes and preparation cycles vary depending on the path. Secondly, evaluate the destination and industry. Whether it involves sensitive countries, regions, or industries directly determines whether to approve or file, which is also a point that many companies tend to overlook. Thirdly, connect with professional services in advance. Cross border investment involves multiple professional fields such as law, finance and taxation, foreign exchange, and data security, which are difficult for most enterprises to complete independently. Professional intermediaries and consultants can help reduce the probability of errors. Fourth, dynamically track policies. After the implementation of the new regulations, the supporting rules are still gradually being implemented. Regularly understanding the latest caliber can avoid making new decisions based on old experience.

Policies are being improved, and companies need to keep up with their preparations

One major feature of the new regulations is 'full cycle supervision and service': it not only manages the beginning of investment, but also focuses on the subsequent operation and changes of investment, while emphasizing the protection and service of compliant operators. This means that the earlier a company establishes compliance awareness and conducts investments in a standardized manner, the greater the convenience it can obtain within the policy framework. On the contrary, if one only focuses on speed and convenience while neglecting compliance, it may actually result in higher costs in later verification and fund inflows and outflows. For enterprises, compliance is not a constraint, but a confidence to go far abroad; Doing compliance homework at the forefront is much more cost-effective than remedying problems.

What else should we pay attention to besides filing on the way out to sea

Outward investment is a systematic project, and filing is just one of the steps. How to export funds in compliance, how to open overseas accounts, how to receive and pay in daily operations, how to manage profits and dividends, how to manage exchange rate fluctuations, and how to arrange cross-border tax and data compliance are all unavoidable issues in the actual operation of enterprises. These professional issues are often not the main business of the enterprise, but directly related to the smoothness of investment. Therefore, the ability to connect with a group of professional and reliable partners often becomes an important variable in the success or failure of going global.

Why is it worth attending an offline exhibition

The difficulty of corporate compliance and going global is not only about knowing what to do, but also finding the right people. Although there is a lot of online information, the authenticity is mixed, and the level of intermediaries and service agencies varies greatly. It is not easy for enterprises to identify professional and reliable partners in a short period of time. A high-quality industry exhibition brings together policy interpretation, professional institutions, and peer experience in the same time and space, allowing companies to compare face-to-face, consult on-site, and obtain key information on the spot, with much higher efficiency than scattered online searches. For business decision-makers, this is also an opportunity to fill in the gaps in information and resources within three days.

What does this expo bring to enterprises

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. The exhibition has specifically set up a section for enterprise overseas and financial services, bringing together various entities such as overseas consulting, legal services, financial and tax services, cross-border finance, overseas parks, and business service institutions. For enterprises, participating in exhibitions can bring several visible benefits: firstly, concentrating on connecting with overseas service resources and quickly establishing a list of professional partners; Secondly, communicate on-site with peers and institutions to grasp first-hand market and policy information; Thirdly, leverage the exhibition platform to gain brand exposure and expand channels. For professional audiences, it is also possible to efficiently complete horizontal comparisons of multiple institutions and projects within three days, significantly reducing information asymmetry.

According to the organizers, this exhibition is expected to receive approximately 8000 professional visitors and visitors over the course of three days. Whether you are a company planning to go global or an organization looking to improve your overseas layout and find service providers, you can find the resources and answers you need at the exhibition.

Finally, three small suggestions for companies planning to go global: do compliance work at the forefront, screen partners more carefully, and schedule the timeline more calmly. One exhibition cannot solve all problems, but it can help you put the questions and answers on the table, making every step after going abroad more directional.

Exhibition Information

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

Location: Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center (No. 99 Xingyi Road, Changning District)

Exhibition Hotline: 13681692751 (same as WeChat)

Official website: www.qs-expo.com