by LIU Sunan, YANGSHU Hongji

Shanghai is moving to upgrade its overseas services network, responding to growing demand from Chinese companies expanding beyond the domestic market.

From auto parts manufacturers building factories in Africa to consumer brands exploring partnerships in Europe, a growing number of companies are turning to Shanghai-based platforms for help in managing regulatory, legal and operational challenges abroad.

That growing demand has prompted a policy response. Shanghai on January 4 rolled out its 2026 Action Plan to Accelerate the Development of a World-Class Business Environment, which places greater emphasis on services supporting overseas expansion, including compliance, risk management and cross-border operations.

HUANG Feng, head of the Shanghai Association of Foreign Investment, said the city's focus has moved beyond streamlining paperwork to building a more coordinated support framework for companies expanding overseas.

The plan identifies Pudong New Area, Lin-gang Special Area and the Hongqiao International Central Business District as key areas for developing outbound services, reflecting their roles in finance, manufacturing, logistics and professional services.

Pudong, long a hub for finance and multinational headquarters, launched a comprehensive outbound services center in 2025 and has since built a network of more than 270 overseas service points covering major global markets.

Lin-gang, which combines port access, airport links and free trade zone policies, launched a physical outbound services platform in 2024, followed by a package of targeted support measures last year.

Hongqiao, Shanghai's western transport hub and a center for headquarters and professional services firms, is developing an integrated platform for companies going global. Through its overseas development service center, the district offers integrated administrative, public and professional services, including overseas investment filings, trademark registration and business travel facilitation. Officials say the platform has handled more than 35,000 corporate cases to date.

The action plan also pledges to strengthen legal and tax services for outbound companies, expand training for overseas investment advisory services and improve risk alerts for projects abroad. Shanghai will extend its data-export negative list citywide and streamline foreign-related documentation to cut compliance costs and regulatory friction.

As Chinese companies face a more complex global environment, city officials say Shanghai is seeking to provide more predictable, end-to-end support for firms pursuing growth overseas, complementing its role as a major business and financial hub.