Hong Kong Soars to 3rd in Global Competitiveness! Family Offices, IPOs, and Stablecoins Emerge as New Highlights
- 炒年糕的貓貓
- 3 days ago
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The latest 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, shows Hong Kong climbing two spots to third place globally, with an overall score of 99.2 points—a 7.7-point increase from last year, the highest growth among the top ten economies. This reflects the continued strengthening of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center.
Hong Kong’s Performance in IMD’s Four Key Competitiveness Indicators (2025)
The IMD ranking covers 69 economies, evaluating government efficiency, business efficiency, economic performance, and infrastructure. Hong Kong excels in critical areas:
Indicator | Global Rank (2025) | Change (vs. 2024) | Key Subcategory Performance |
Government Efficiency | 2nd (▲1) | ↑1 | • Tax policies & business regulations: 1st globally (maintained) |
Business Efficiency | 2nd (▲5) | ↑5 | • Business efficiency: 2nd globally • Management practices: 3rd (▲3) • Productivity & efficiency: 7th (▲4) |
Economic Performance | 6th (▲5) | ↑5 | • International investment appeal: 2nd (▲1) |
Infrastructure | 7th (▲2) | ↑2 | • Education: 2nd globally (▲2) |
Key Report Highlights
Hong Kong is recognized by the international business community as a "global business hub", thanks to its rule of law, simple and low-tax regime, and free flow of capital and talent.
Family Offices Rapidly Gather, Expected to Exceed 3,000
In a speech at the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association Annual Conference on June 23, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po emphasized that Hong Kong is attracting accelerated global capital deployment. Key data includes:
Number of family offices: Currently 2,700, expected to surpass 3,000 soon.
Assets under management (AUM): Nearly $4 trillion (10x Hong Kong’s GDP), with two-thirds sourced from overseas.
Policy support: The 2025-26 tax year will introduce differentiated tax measures, including:
Expanding eligible fund categories,
Adding qualifying transaction types,
Refining carried interest tax arrangements for private equity funds.
IPO Market Stages Strong Recovery, Annual Fundraising Could Hit $160B
According to Wind Data and institutional forecasts:
Total equity financing (as of June 17): HK$213.3B (▲300% YoY).
IPO fundraising: HK$77.988B (▲500% YoY).
IPO pipeline: Over 160 companies in queue, including 20 mega-listings (each raising >$1B).
2025 outlook: EY predicts Hong Kong’s IPO fundraising will reach HK$130B–160B, potentially re-entering the global top three.
Stablecoin Legislation Enacted, Seizing Digital Finance Opportunities
The Stablecoin Ordinance has been passed by the Legislative Council and will take effect on August 1, establishing a licensing regime for fiat-backed stablecoin issuers. Market highlights:
Global stablecoin market cap: ~$240B.
2024 global stablecoin trading volume: Exceeds $20 trillion.
As the digital asset market grows, demand for stablecoins is expected to rise further. Hong Kong’s move strengthens its position as a global virtual asset hub.
Conclusion
Hong Kong’s rise in the IMD competitiveness rankings reflects its strengths in finance, innovation, and policy flexibility. The three key highlights—family office growth, IPO market recovery, and stablecoin legislation—further solidify its competitiveness as an international financial hub, with promising future prospects.
If you are considering establishing a family office in Hong Kong or exploring investment opportunities, feel free to contact Oceanus Strategic for expert guidance.
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