Invest Hong Kong, an investment promotion agency, kicked off a three-year major investment promotion campaign here Friday, targeting private-owned enterprises in high-growth regions across China's mainland.

The campaign, named "On Your Marks, Get-set, Go!", will focus on seven key economically developed provinces on China's mainland, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Liaoning, Sichuan, Guangdong and Fujian, and provide private enterprises with the information and tools to expand internationally using Hong Kong as their gateway, according to InvestHK.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Mike Rowse said the demand-driven campaign would guide companies through the business- expansion process.

"We're raising the level of awareness of Hong Kong's role in helping local companies in China's mainland go global, we're providing practical advice on developing an expansion strategy -- and finally we're bringing these companies to Hong Kong to experience the city first hand," he said.

According to InvestHK's estimates, more than 2,000 companies from China's mainland are operating business in Hong Kong, with about 268 of these using the city as their regional office or headquarters.

Recent investors who have used Invest Hong Kong's free services include Tong Ren Tang, Kingdee, Nuctech and Duan & Duan.