The certification ceremony for the 42nd batch of regional headquarters and R&D centers of multinational corporations is currently being held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. When Yang Hongyong, Global Vice President of Fenia Group, received the certificate of Asia Pacific headquarters, the screen behind him showed the company's upcoming investment of over 100 million yuan in a new project layout in China. Three days later, data released by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce confirmed the deeper meaning of this scene: by 2025, there will be over 6300 newly established foreign-funded enterprises in Shanghai, a year-on-year increase of 6.8%. From the Huangpu River to the global market, this the Belt and Road opening hub is writing a new chapter of high-level opening with the increasing attraction of foreign capital.

Over 6000 foreign-funded enterprises have settled in

The latest data released by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce on March 19th shows that there will be over 6300 newly established foreign-funded enterprises in Shanghai by 2025, a year-on-year increase of 6.8%. As of the end of February 2026, the number of regional headquarters of multinational corporations in Shanghai has reached 1084, and the number of foreign-funded R&D centers has reached 647. On March 18th, Shanghai held the 42nd batch of certification ceremonies for regional headquarters and R&D centers of multinational corporations, officially awarding certificates to 30 regional headquarters of multinational corporations and 15 foreign-funded R&D centers. Many foreign-funded enterprises continue to increase their layout in Shanghai, demonstrating their firm confidence in the Chinese market and Shanghai's business environment.

Multinational giants increase their layout

At the certification ceremony, several foreign-funded enterprises announced their new investment plans in China. Fenia Group has been awarded the Asia Pacific headquarters certificate. Yang Hongyong, the global vice president of the company, stated that the total amount of investment projects that the company has approved and executed in China exceeds 100 million yuan, with a focus on areas such as gasoline direct injection systems and methanol ethanol alternative fuels. Dong Lijun, General Manager of AbbVie China Pharmaceuticals, bluntly stated that China is the core engine of global innovation strategy for enterprises. After the headquarters level transition, it will carry more comprehensive functions such as strategic planning and investment decision-making. Li Jieshi also revealed that the global science and technology innovation R&D center with a total investment of 300 million yuan is about to operate, which is the largest R&D center investment project of the enterprise in Asia. Key words: the Belt and Road news network, Silk Road hub upgrading

Open hub level leap

The continuous increase of foreign-funded enterprises is due to Shanghai's continuously optimized international first-class business environment and institutional opening-up advantages. As an important hub of economic and trade cooperation along the the Belt and Road, Shanghai has always been open and linked to global resources at a high level, constantly improving the energy level of multinational companies' regional headquarters and foreign-funded R&D centers, and helping foreign-funded enterprises achieve the development goal of basing themselves in Shanghai and distributing globally. Next, Shanghai will continue to build an institutional open highland, further optimize the business environment, support foreign investment in Shanghai, expand core functions such as research and development innovation, financial management, and supply chain management, and inject strong open momentum into Silk Road economic and trade cooperation.Editor/Gao Xue