Tianli International Holdings Limited is making significant strides in its internationalisation efforts, with Hong Kong serving as a strategic gateway to deepen its presence in global markets. The company's General Manager of International Education, Dr. Zhao Feng, recently shared insights on the group's expansion plans at an international business forum in Kuala Lumpur. Dr. Zhao highlighted Hong Kong's locational advantages, free port regime, and free flow of capital and talent as key factors that align with Tianli's "Education Going Global" strategy.
On August 11, Dr. Zhao spoke at the "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" event in Kuala Lumpur, which brought together around 1,600 business leaders from Hong Kong and Malaysia. The event facilitated over 300 business matching meetings and saw 10 memoranda of understanding signed on site. Dr. Zhao shared Tianli's growth story, from its beginnings as a school operator in Mainland China to its current status as a Hong Kong-listed education group. He emphasised Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector" linking Mainland China with the rest of the world.
Tianli International's expansion into Hong Kong has garnered significant attention from international media. On September 24, Bloomberg published a feature story on the wave of global education institutions racing to establish a presence in Hong Kong. The report cited data from Colliers, showing that education-related transactions totalled approximately HK$12 billion in the first eight months of 2026. This represents over one-third of Hong Kong's total commercial real estate transaction volume during the same period.
The demand for private school places in Hong Kong has been on the rise, with enrolment increasing by 12% in 2025 compared to 2022. However, the supply of school places has only grown by 6%, resulting in a significant gap that global education brands are seeking to fill. Tianli International plans to establish its first international school in Hong Kong, with a proposed site in Hung Hom serving secondary school students.
Ms. Sun Jinlan, Head of the Brand Department at Tianli International, expressed enthusiasm for the global attention Hong Kong's education market has received. She emphasised the group's commitment to regulatory compliance, stating that they will not conduct any promotion or student recruitment for the proposed school project until all requisite regulatory approvals and school registration have been obtained.
Tianli International's expansion into Hong Kong is part of its long-term internationalisation strategy. The group operates over 60 schools in Mainland China, serving over 145,000 students. Tianli has also entered into partnerships with seven education institutions in Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Laos, to provide education services and build a multinational education network across Southeast Asia.
As Tianli International continues to expand its global education footprint, the group is leveraging its well-established school operation and management expertise, combined with its proprietary AI technology. This enables interactive classroom teaching and personalised after-school tutoring, positioning the group to seize new opportunities in the evolving education landscape.
Key points
- Tianli International is leveraging Hong Kong as a strategic hub to build a new global education footprint.
- The company plans to establish its first international school in Hong Kong, with a proposed site in Hung Hom serving secondary school students.
- Tianli International's expansion into Hong Kong is part of its long-term internationalisation strategy, driven by its "Education Going Global" strategy.
