Conferences

Our networking conference is currently held once every two years in Shanghai in April. It offers an intimate platform for Western investors to make meaningful contacts with Chinese decision-makers from across the entire length of the Yangtze, from the upper to the lower reaches. These senior officials come from the various city port authorities and from local governments in charge of transport, inward investment and urban development.

Structure
Each conference has a particular theme. In 2007, the theme was infrastructure projects. In 2009, the focus will be on the logistics challenges of accessing China’s interior. There are typically 10 speaking slots during the day, along with Q&A sessions and coffee breaks.

After the presentations, there is a 2-3 hour matchmaking session. This has proved to be very popular for many delegates. All the Western delegates are asked in advance which participating port cities they would like to meet, and they are then allocated 15 minutes each.

Requirements
This is an intense, one-day event with a lot of information to take in and many people to exchange cards with. There will be simultaneous translation during all the presentations, but Western firms will need to bring their own Chinese-speaking staff or interpreter to help converse with the Chinese officials. Above all, you really need to be prepared to get the best out of the conference: check our website regularly to see which new port city has registered to participate and the investment shopping lists they have submitted to the conference. Also, read about the individual cities in our publication ‘Yangtze Transport 2008: Accessing China’s Interior’ in advance. All delegates will get a complimentary copy of the book upon registration. If you want to secure a copy in advance, please get in touch with us.