How to start a business going global? One stop Connection between ODI Filing and Cross border Finance - Outlook for the Opening of Shanghai Expo on November 20, 2026

'Going global' is evolving from an exploration by a few companies to a common choice among an increasing number of industries. The manufacturing industry extends its production capacity overseas, consumer brands try cross-border operations, and service trade institutions follow customers to layout overseas markets. As domestic market competition intensifies and the global supply chain landscape changes, going global has become the next step that many companies are seriously considering. For a company, this is often not a one-time decision, but a long-term arrangement involving market, funding, compliance, and operations.

However, there are many practical barriers between "wanting to go abroad" and "being able to go out steadily": how to do compliance filing, how to export funds, how to arrange tax structure, how to identify legal and employment risks, and how to implement local teams. Each step may determine the pace of the entire project. For most companies, these issues are not familiar areas in daily life, and relying solely on internal teams to explore them one by one is time-consuming and costly. Professional support is often more important than imagined.

The demand for going abroad is being layered and refined

The overseas demand of different types of enterprises is not the same. Enterprises that have already established factories overseas are concerned about localizing their supply chain and coordinating production capacity; I hope to expand my sales brand by paying more attention to channels, compliance, and local consumer habits; Enterprises that provide cross-border services need to go global with their customers. Even within the same industry, companies at different stages require different levels of support, making it difficult to cover with a universal solution.

This precisely means that companies need to be able to choose professional service channels according to their own situation, rather than passively accepting a fixed statement. More contact, comparison, and verification are necessary to find partners that match one's own needs.

ODI Filing: The First Step towards Compliance in Going Global

The filing of outward direct investment (ODI) by enterprises is a compliance prerequisite for enterprises to conduct direct investment overseas through new establishment, mergers and acquisitions, capital increase, and other means. According to the current arrangement, this process usually involves procedures from multiple competent departments such as development and reform, commerce, and foreign exchange: project initiation and approval or filing, foreign investment filing, foreign exchange registration, etc., which are interrelated. The application materials that need to be prepared generally include the basic information of the project, the investment subject, the source and path of funds, etc.

Whether the project investment falls within the allowed or encouraged scope, whether the materials are complete, and whether the funding path is clear will all affect the smoothness of the process. There are also differences in material requirements for different industries and investment methods, and improper handling of a detail may lead to repeated supplementation. A professional organization familiar with policies and practical operations can help companies advance within a compliance framework and reduce delays caused by material or path issues.

It is worth noting that the National Development and Reform Commission recently announced the "Measures for the Administration of Foreign Investment", which will come into effect on December 1, 2026. The relevant requirements for overseas investment filing and approval will be further standardized. For enterprises planning to go global, timely understanding of new regulations and preparing materials according to standards is the key to taking the first step towards stability. Policies are changing, and businesses need to update their preparations accordingly.

Cross border finance and professional services: filling the gaps in going global

Financial arrangements are a common concern for overseas enterprises. Cross border settlement, offshore accounts, overseas financing, exchange rate risk management, etc. are common needs in the process of going global. A reasonable funding and financial structure can not only ensure efficient inflow and outflow of funds, but also help control exchange rate and compliance risks. With the deepening of overseas layout of enterprises, the complexity of fund coordination is also increasing, and digital cross-border fund management tools are receiving more and more attention.

Accompanying the funding arrangement are the tax structure, company establishment, labor employment, and industry access of the target market. There are significant differences in these aspects among different countries, and professional support such as tax consultants and lawyers is needed. Only by integrating finance, taxation, and law can a relatively complete plan for going global be formed, rather than just solving the funding side. Many overseas enterprises eventually realize that professional services are not an optional expense, but an important part of reducing uncertainty and ensuring the smooth progress of projects.

In addition, obtaining information from overseas markets is also a hurdle for many companies. The business environment, industry policies, and channel structure vary greatly in different markets, and it is often difficult to judge solely based on public information. If it is possible to have centralized contact with service agencies, compare different solutions, and exchange experiences with enterprises that have gone global in one place, it is a low-cost and efficient way for enterprises to obtain information.

Expo: Moving the 'Overseas Service Chain' to the Site

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 enterprise going global and financial services section of the Expo gathers service institutions such as filing consulting, cross-border finance, taxation, legal, market and digital operations, providing one-stop docking for enterprises planning to go global or already operating overseas. It is expected to receive about 8000 people in three days, including representatives of enterprises who are new to going abroad, as well as business operators who have already set up overseas and need to supplement professional services.

For enterprises, the value of participating in expos lies in centralizing scattered information: comparing the service scope and professional direction of different institutions on site, consulting around specific needs such as filing, finance, taxation, etc., completing multiple rounds of communication in one trip, with higher efficiency than door-to-door visits. This centralized comparison and consultation method also makes it easier for enterprises to find service providers that match their needs.

Why are exhibitors worth participating in

For various service agencies facing overseas enterprises, the Expo is a bridge connecting professional supply and real demand. The industrial foundation of the Yangtze River Delta region is solid, and there are a considerable number of companies planning to go abroad and those that have already gone abroad. Participating in the exhibition means contacting a large number of potential customers in a short period of time, directly understanding the real demands of the companies, and transforming service capabilities into verifiable opportunities for docking. Meanwhile, centralized communication with institutions in the same field can also help observe changes in industry service methods and calibrate one's own positioning.

Information and Registration

The expo covers areas such as enterprise overseas expansion, immigration, study abroad, real estate, and financial services. Unified information: From November 20th to 22nd, 2026, the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center is expected to attract approximately 8000 visitors in three days. Exhibition hotline: 13681692751 (same as WeChat), official website: www.qs-expo.com. Welcome enterprises and professional service organizations with overseas needs to inquire, participate in exhibitions, or visit exhibitions.