The Intermodal Asia 2014 event will open its doors on 1 April at the Shanghai World Expo Centre.

The inaugural Intermodal Asia event takes place during Asian Container Shipping Week 2014, which will be held in Shanghai from 30 March to 3 April.

Asian Container Shipping Week includes an extensive program of events, starting on 30 March with the Container Owners Association (COA) Golf Day, followed by the COA's 14th General Meeting on 31 March.

The Intermodal Asia 2014 conference and exhibition opens its doors on 1 April at the Shanghai World Expo Centre, with an opening ceremony hosted by Mai Bo Liang, chairman of the China Container Industry Association (CCIA).

Intermodal Asia 2014 is organised by Informa Exhibitions (the Intermodal Europe organiser) in partnership with the CCIA and supported by CIMC (China International Marine Containers (Group) Co Ltd), which is the world's largest container manufacturer.

Conference topics will include current and future issues for shippers, various container types, environmental issues and container handling technology. There will also be sessions looking at port issues for intermodal transport and an intermodal rail freight forum.

"The conference ... will bring together the top industry leaders to discuss important container shipping and supply chain topics that affect the market today," says Mai.

"There will be a focus on world economics and international trade, considering the relationships within intermodal industries and looking to the future of intermodal transport."

The free-to-attend conference sessions will be held in both Mandarin and English and will take place in the Strategy Theatre and the Innovation Theatre.

On day two (2 April), there will be an exclusive tour of Shanghai Port.

"There has been an overwhelming level of support for Intermodal Asia already and working with the CCIA and CIMC will ensure that this will truly be an industry-led event," says event director Sophie Ahmed. "Over 90% of the exhibition hall has already been booked and it is set to be a very successful and exciting industry event."