As the only free trade port in China, the Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) is designated as a national-level str...
In the recent six years, the demand for government funding support has surged sharply, with close to 90% of the funding approved in this period. The number of applications for the BUD Fund in 2024 increased by over 320% as compared with that in 2019, and that for the EMF (SME Export Marketing Fund) increased by 87% over the same period. Since it was launched in 2012, the BUD Fund has approved a total funding amount of HK$6.2 billion, and HK$5.43 billion were concentrated in the past six years (i.e., 2019-2024). To facilitate Hong Kong enterprises in capitalizing on opportunities under the Twelfth Five-Year Plan, the Hong Kong Government launched the "Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales" (BUD Fund) in June 2012. This initiative aims to enhance enterprises' competitiveness in FTA zone and/or investment treaty markets. The category of BUD Fund covers brand development, operational upgrading, and market expansion, promoting business growth across 39 global economies. Since it launched, the funding amounts of BUD fund has increased from HK$ 500,000 to HK$ 7 million per enterprise. HK government has injected HKD 6.5 billion into BUD Fund, benefiting over 3,900 enterprises to date. BUD fund is divided into two categories: Mainland Programme and FTA & IPPA Programme. Mainland Programme is designed for the enterprises to undertake projects to develop in the Mainland; the later one for the enterprises to develop lobally. For instance, a creative company –Chocolate Rain Jewelery & Design Company Limited, paid expensive patent fee through BUD when entering in Singapore market. “You have to patent your products locally, and pay for each category.” “That’s why we have to rely on funding all these years,” the founder of Chocolate Rain Jewelery said. Three types of project are available for application: General Application, E-commerce Easy, and Easy BUD Application. Each type covers different projects, such as audits, equipment purchases, patents, promotion, etc. General Application provides funding to projects related to at least one of the following areas: brand development, upgrading and transformation, or marketing expansion. The project budget must meet the percentage or amount limit requirements. The project of General Application covers: E-commerce Easy refers to projects aimed at expanding into the mainland market through e-commerce. The project of E-commerce Easy covers: Easy Application offers funding to businesses that meet the fund's areas, with a funding ceiling of HK$100,000 per project. The project of E-commerce Easy covers: The BUD Fund continues to implement enhancement measures to meet the needs of companies of different sizes. To further support SMEs, the 2025-26 Budget proposed to inject HK$1.5 billion into the BUD Fund and Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund, and implement enhancement measures; the application period of principal moratorium in SME Financing Guarantee Schemes (SFGS) is expanded to November 2025; and the Budget have allocated a total of HK$100 million to gradually enhance the services of SME ReachOut in the ensuing five years starting from 2023 by stepping up support for SMEs. This March, the spokesperson of the Trade and Industry Department (TID) announced (March 13) that "We will institute enhancement measures to provide more targeted support to SMEs, encourage them to enhance competitiveness and tap into markets outside Hong Kong. Firstly, each applicant enterprise will be able to submit one 'Easy BUD' application every three months, instead of every six months at present. Moreover, the funding scope of the 'Easy BUD' application will be expanded to include the establishment of online sales platform. Furthermore, to assist enterprises in restructuring their business operations in the face of rising trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, the BUD Fund will also expressly provide for funding support for professional fees associated with the establishment of new business entities in eligible markets." With immediate effect, new application submitted will be processed according to the enhanced measures effective from 14 March 2025. Currently, General Application and E-commerce Easy will be processed in batches, and the latest batch is until 30 September 2025 (23:59 HKT). Have a look at an example how BUD Fund works: The corporate client has been established for 11 years and primarily engages in integrated logistics services. Its services cover China-Hong Kong transportation, domestic transportation, international sea and air transportation, warehousing, third-party logistics, and supply chain services. The company has a strong logistics monitoring and security system. The client planned to launch the following projects: Hiring employees in Mainland China, upgrading management systems and advertisements. Objective: optimize workforce structure. Objective: optimize the corporate ecosystem service platform. Objective: increase online advertising and promotion. Total Approved Funding Amount: HK$918,500 Closing deals is not our ultimate objective. We prioritize resolving clients' challenges from their perspective, fostering growth with them. Our team have successfully assisted more than 1,000 businesses and secured over RMB 500 million in subsidies for clients, both locally and internationally. Out2China is your trusted strategic implementation partner rather than a service provider. Our Advantages: The Hong Kong Industry Fund application requires specialized knowledge, making it challenging for businesses to apply independently. Our Shenzhen-Hong Kong based teams ensure a high success rate. With over 10 years of experience, we are able to quickly assess and make decisions based on the specific needs of each business. We maintains close contact with the authorities and reviewers, allowing us to adapt quickly to evaluation criteria and make necessary adjustments, ensuring the timeliness and success rate of each application. Initiate your subsidy application with us to jointly propel your rapid growth and success. If you have any inquiry, feel free to drop questions in the comments below.BUD's Setting UP
BUD's Programme: Empower Global Expansion
Diverse Project Options: Fuel Your Business Needs
Latest Policy Updates & Batch
Case: Million-HKD Subsidy for Logistics Company
Content: add a dedicated position to design the logistics framework, coordinate departments and processes. Responsible for vehicle arrangements, scheduling, and handling exceptions, ensuring the operation of the logistics system.
Approved Funding Amount: HK$708,500
Content: enhance internal financial management system and upgrade RPA system. Reduces the team’s workload, improve productivity and return on investment.
Approved Funding Amount: HK$64,400
Content: produce brand promotional video, enhance brand image. Expand online promotion channels, create short videos, and establish search keywords on platforms (e.g. Tik Tok).
Approved Funding Amount: HK$661,412
One-Stop Application Assistance
As the only free trade port in China, the Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) is designated as a national-level str...
China has become the world’s second-largest healthcare market. Yet for overseas pharmaceutical and medical device compan...
