Against the backdrop of profound adjustments in the global economic landscape, Chinese companies are entering a new phase of integrated industrial chain collaboration in their overseas expansion. Simultaneously, the wave of enterprise digitalization driven by AI is accelerating the penetration of AI applications. During the 20th "EY Entrepreneur of the Year" awards ceremony, SINA Finance conducted an exclusive interview with Huang Yin, Managing Partner of EY South China. Huang Yin noted that Chinese companies' overseas ventures have evolved from early single-business expansions to comprehensive industrial chain coordination, while AI transformation is helping enterprises deepen technological applications into systemic construction. This shift offers greater development opportunities but also demands higher comprehensive capabilities.
1. SINA Finance: Chinese companies have undergone multiple waves of overseas expansion. What new trends are emerging in terms of participants, models, and sectors? Huang Yin: Chinese companies' global expansion has indeed progressed through multiple stages. Initially, state-owned enterprises led the charge in energy and infrastructure projects. Later, acquisitions of consumer brands, innovative teams, or technologies became prominent. Currently, the trend is characterized by full industrial chain expansion led by "chain leaders," with advanced manufacturing at the forefront. In terms of models, mergers and acquisitions were once the mainstream due to high entry barriers in unfamiliar markets, enabling rapid localization through partnerships or acquisitions. However, as Chinese companies' capabilities and professional support services have improved, greenfield investments are increasingly favored, effectively boosting local employment and economic growth, reflecting responsible investment practices.
2. SINA Finance: When expanding into Belt and Road countries, mainland companies often face diverse regulatory environments. How can they navigate these differences? Huang Yin: To address regulatory disparities, companies should leverage professional guidance while also localizing their operations. Although internal legal, financial, and strategic investment teams provide support, external expertise remains critical. First, destination selection must be strategic: resource-dependent industries (e.g., lithium batteries) should prioritize resource-rich, politically stable regions, while market-driven sectors (e.g., new energy vehicles) should focus on core markets like Europe and the U.S. Second, on-the-ground teams are essential—companies must deeply understand local culture, economics, and regulations while hiring local professionals. For example, EY anticipated the overseas expansion wave in 2009 and established the China Overseas Investment Network (COIN), deploying Mandarin-speaking teams across 90+ countries alongside Belt and Road specialists to bridge language and cultural gaps, offering precise compliance support.
3. SINA Finance: As a "super connector," what role does Hong Kong play in companies' global expansion? How do institutions assist businesses in establishing operations there? Huang Yin: Hong Kong’s advantages lie in its institutional, financial, trade, and professional service frameworks. Its "One Country, Two Systems" model provides a flexible transition platform; its mature financial system meets funding needs; its trade and service expertise offers end-to-end support; and its multicultural environment eases adaptation to global business. Many mainland firms thus choose Hong Kong as a springboard. Institutions like EY serve as comprehensive service providers: as founding members of the HKSAR government’s "Mainland Enterprises Going Global Task Force," we deepen support through this platform while addressing common needs like market research, site selection, labor/tax compliance, and subsidy applications. For instance, large enterprises can secure EU subsidies worth hundreds of millions, requiring expert handling of complex documentation.
4. SINA Finance: With AI costs declining and applications proliferating, how can service providers assist firms lacking digital foundations? Huang Yin: EY aids enterprises through product innovation and technical enablement. Our self-developed AI tools—spanning audit, tax, consulting, strategy, and finance—are offered free for initial planning and advisory needs, with premium services available. Technologically, AI is fully integrated into our audits, processing tens of thousands of daily transactions via big data analytics instead of sampling, enhancing risk detection for digitized clients. We also emphasize "Responsible AI" to mitigate risks from uncontrolled applications. Through advisory services, we help clients establish governance frameworks, defining compliance boundaries and risk controls to balance innovation with accountability.
5. SINA Finance: How have corporate demands for professional services evolved, and what are current priorities? Huang Yin: Needs vary by growth stage but are lifecycle-spanning and diverse. Startups prioritize fundraising (e.g., vendor due diligence, equity structuring), while scaling firms focus on digital transformation and compliance. IPO-related services dominate pre-listing phases. Overseas expansion and ESG services are also trending—we guide clients in leveraging green finance tools for low-cost transitions aligned with China’s carbon goals. Tax compliance remains perennial, especially amid tightening global regulations.
6. SINA Finance: How does the "EY Entrepreneur of the Year" select winners? What defines excellence from an institutional perspective, and how does EY add value? Huang Yin: Launched in mainland China and Hong Kong/Macau in 2006 (globally, 25 years ago), the award recognizes "vision, leadership, and entrepreneurship" in pioneers driving high-quality, innovation-led productivity. This year’s honorees include tech and biotech innovators and traditional industry transformers. EY delivers end-to-end services—from Hong Kong IPO support to overseas M&A and greenfield projects—covering audit, advisory, strategy, and tax needs to fuel sustainable growth.
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