Multiple international brands on sale at Haikou International Duty-Free Complex. (Source: hinews.cn)

Since the official launch of island-wide special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) on December 18, 2025, global investors' attention to and enthusiasm for investment in Hainan have continued to rise.

The Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development has recently experienced a surge in inquiries through its global investment hotline, with investors from around the world inquiring about policy changes following special customs operations and specific opportunities across various sectors, including manufacturing, trade, and healthcare.

Siemens Energy established its local subsidiary in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, Hainan. (Source: hinews.cn)

The launch of special customs operations has also seen the rapid rollout of several key projects. Siemens Energy, a Fortune Global 500 company, established a local subsidiary in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, where it has begun construction of its first gas turbine assembly base and service center. The base is the first major foreign investment project in the manufacturing sector to be launched since December 18.

Zijin International Center in Sanya. (Source: hinews.cn)

In Sanya, NIP Group plans to create a comprehensive leisure resort featuring top-tier esports, a range of traditional sports, and the latest in entertainment. The construction of the wholly foreign-owned rehabilitation hospital by Singapore's Perennial Group has also been officially approved, paving the way for enhancing the region's high-end medical service capabilities. In addition, Zijin Gold International has relocated its international operations headquarters to the city as it aims to become an "HQ hotspot" for large companies.

A series of events, including the Hainan Free Trade Port International Boutique Week, the International Data Industry Innovation Development Conference, and the Hainan Free Trade Port International Conference on Pharma & MedTech Innovation, Introduction and Expansion, have been held in quick succession, featuring the signing of big-ticket multinational projects. Other foreign investment projects, such as the Richl Hospital (Hainan's first fully foreign-funded hospital) in Boao, as well as Swire Coca-Cola's Green Production Base and French pharmaceutical company Mayoly's operations in Haikou, have also recently broken ground.

Investors have shown confidence that the policy dividends, geographical advantages, and industrial potential of the Hainan Free Trade Port will be further unleashed following the launch of special customs operations, providing significant development opportunities.

He Youjun, Chairman of NIP Group, expressed optimism about Hainan's unique policy environment, cultural tourism resources, and international business environment, stating that his firm would actively advance the coordinated development of related industries.

Since the beginning of this year, Hainan has significantly beefed up its "Invest in the Free Trade Port" brand through multiple promotional activities, including the 2025 Global Industry Investment Promotion Conference for the Hainan Free Trade Port. Data provided by the Department of Commerce of Hainan Province shows that from January to November 2025, 2,072 foreign-invested enterprises were established in the province, representing a 21.2% year-on-year increase, while paid-up overseas investment reached CNY 24.232 billion, a year-on-year increase of 51.5%.

A spokesperson for the department stated that it would continue to strengthen policy and international investment promotion, optimize investment services, and leverage the open advantages of the FTP, as well as its strategic location at the intersection of domestic and international dual circulation, to attract more global investors to share in Hainan's development opportunities.