Chinese Enterprises Are Flocking to Singapore
80% of Chinese enterprises plan to go global, and 54% have listed Singapore as a key destination. A new wave of business expansion is gathering momentum.
Chinese companies are not merely selling products overseas; they are relocating their regional headquarters, R&D centres and business teams to Singapore.
According to the August 2026 report by United Overseas Bank, which surveyed decision‑makers from 380 large‑and‑medium‑sized Chinese enterprises covering six major industries including manufacturing, technology, healthcare and consumer goods:
80% of surveyed enterprises plan to launch overseas businesses within the next three years.
ASEAN remains the preferred destination, with Malaysia (56%), Singapore (54%) and Thailand (51%) drawing the most attention.
What does the 54% figure mean?
More than half of China’s large‑and‑medium‑sized enterprises include Singapore on their target shortlist when considering global expansion.
Also noteworthy:
In 2025, China’s share of fixed‑asset investment in Singapore surged from 2.5% in 2024 to 20.6%. The absolute value jumped from SGD 340 million to SGD 2.93 billion, representing an approximate eight‑fold increase.
For the first time, China overtook the United States (17.3%) to become Singapore’s second‑largest source of foreign investment.
This is more than just “going global” — it is about “putting down deep roots”.
01
From “Going Global” to “Putting Down Deep Roots”
Chinese Enterprises Enter Phase 2.0 of Global Expansion
Zheng Jun, Country Head of UOB China, put forward a key observation regarding Chinese enterprises’ global expansion:
Chinese enterprises are moving from Phase 1.0 into Phase 2.0 of global expansion.
Phase 1.0: Product‑oriented global expansion.
Enterprises sell products overseas while keeping their headquarters, R&D, branding and supply chains based in China.
Overseas markets were mainly concentrated in Europe and North America under the model of “Made in China, Sold Worldwide”.
Phase 2.0: Ecosystem‑driven global expansion.
Instead of merely selling products, enterprises are “moving out” their technologies, brands, operational capabilities, supply chains and even entire business ecosystems.
Overseas‑expanding players have expanded beyond traditional manufacturing into advanced manufacturing, high‑end technology, digital economy, new energy, electric vehicles, new‑consumer businesses, healthcare and many other sectors.
According to Zheng Jun, enterprises in this phase “are no longer simply seeking overseas sales markets or shifting production capacity abroad. Instead, they aim to build stronger supply‑chain resilience and a sustainable platform for global‑scale business development.”
And Singapore serves as the core hub for this “Phase 2.0”.
02
Which Chinese Enterprises
Are Reshaping Singapore?
In 2026, Chinese technology, manufacturing and consumer‑goods firms are establishing local footholds in Singapore at an unprecedented pace.
Technology Enterprises:
Setting up “dual‑headquarters” and regional operation centres
Jadu Technology has set up subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Singapore to build a complete regional operation system.
Ankai Microelectronics has established a Singapore subsidiary as its hub for regional operations and business expansion, providing overseas clients with sales liaison, technical support and localised services.
Wuqiang Intelligence officially opened its Singapore subsidiary in April 2026. Operating as its regional headquarters, it focuses on project delivery and localised technical support covering the Southeast Asian market.