Sometimes even the best advisors need some good advice.
This was precisely the case for Fidinam, a leader in business and finance consulting operating across more than 90 countries.
The firm established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong in 2011 to provide one-stop solutions to companies growing their operations in the region.
Asia-Pacific CEO Alessandro Pedrinoni said: “Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s freest and most globally connected economies has made it a magnet for international business. The city has a large pool of legal, accounting and tax professionals with international exposure and experience who can provide quality professional services to our clients.”
Another reason for choosing Hong Kong was the desire to expand into markets with high potential, particularly Mainland China.
“Hong Kong and the mainland are interconnected in terms of policy, finance and culture, which made it easier for us to enter the mainland market."
Making a move in the mainland
When the company set its sights on capturing the booming demand for consulting in Mainland China, it turned to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) extensive network for support.
Leveraging the HKTDC’s strategic connections and deep local insights led the company to a series of successful partnerships helping mainland companies go global.
Through our Hong Kong headquarters and office in Qingdao – a northern China manufacturing base and the world’s 7th busiest port – we helped the company accelerate its expansion in the mainland.
Our assistance included providing advisory on market entry, business conditions and client targeting. We connected Fidinam to chambers of commerce, business associations and potential partners and invited them to join our business matching events to increase the company’s visibility.
As a result of these efforts, the firm secured a strategic partnership with Kangqiao Legal in Jinan.
The initial connection was made when senior Fidinam executives spoke at Belt and Road forums in Qingdao in 2017 and Jinan in 2019, follow-up events to our Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong in 2017.
Among the many new contacts made, Kangqiao Legal sought advice on an overseas warehousing project for its client, Quan Li, in Nigeria.
Fidinam played a key role in managing the project’s cross-border aspects: establishing holding entities in Hong Kong and Mauritius, setting up an operating company in Nigeria and managing bank account openings and accounting and tax compliance in all three jurisdictions.
Our HKTDC Qingdao office has continued to help Fidinam cultivate new opportunities, organise promotional roadshows and facilitate client visits to grow its mainland business.
Acting on our recommendation, the company set up a branch office in Shanghai in 2021 to meet rising client demand.
Boosting momentum
Under the HKTDC’s Support Scheme for Pursuing Development in the Mainland, our Qingdao office arranged high-level meetings between Fidinam and key government departments and enterprises in Qingdao.
This support proved instrumental in 2024, when the company held a high-profile forum attended by staff from Shanghai, Singapore, Vietnam and Dubai to showcase its overseas expansion consulting services.
Among the Qingdao enterprises that attended, Hai Chuang Hui (HCH) - an incubator and start-up accelerator founded by consumer appliances giant Haier – emerged as a promising partner.
Soon after, the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and agreed to cooperate on empowering SMEs and start-ups from around the world, especially those from Mainland China, to expand globally.
Through this partnership, Fidinam provides expertise in finance, tax, legal, marketing and business strategy, while HCH leverages its vast industry network and innovation ecosystem.
Together, they aim to create a powerful launchpad for ambitious enterprises to thrive in a global market.
Fidinam’s experience underscores that Hong Kong remains the most effective launchpad for dealing with the complexity and scale of the mainland market.
“Hong Kong's platform makes it easier for foreign investors to set up enterprises, develop business and capture the mainland’s untapped blue ocean market," Mr Pedrinoni concluded.