Beijing’s direct investment in Hong Kong during the first nine months of this year reached USD3.55 billion, up 135.57% year-on-year. The investments involved 142 companies, and accounted for almost 51% of the Chinese capital’s total outbound direct investment (ODI). Investment was mostly in leasing, business services, wholesale and retail, scientific research and technological services, according to the organizing committee of the 2015 Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium, which was held in Hong Kong on November 27. The projects signed between Beijing and Hong Kong during the symposium were expected to account for 40% of the total. Hong Kong’s investment in Beijing, which has become more diversified over the past few years, has helped many Beijing enterprises grow. More than 500 enterprises and organizations from Hong Kong attended the symposium. In 2014, Beijing’s direct investment in Hong Kong reached USD2.451 billion, or 45% of the city’s total overseas direct investment. On the other hand, Hong Kong has also set up 606 new companies in Beijing with an investment of USD9.52 billion in the first nine months of this year, an increase of 97.9% year-on-year, accounting for 77% of the city’s overall overseas investment. As of the end of September, Hong Kong, which ranks first among all overseas investors, had 13,946 enterprises in Beijing, with actual investment totaling USD43.27 billion, accounting for 43.3% of the city’s total overseas investment, the China Daily reports.