By Mr. Joachim Rosenberg

　　President

　　Volvo Group - Asia Truck Operations

　　· Welcome – customers, business partners, press representatives, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen

　　· Group’s increasing presence in Asia – since 80 years, a number of acquisitions last decade, now a quarter of our sales, we are here to stay, did not leave during the Asian crisis 1997 (others did). You can trust Volvo.

　　· Our growing presence is driven by Asia’s growth and increasing customer demands

　　o Growing ambitions to quickly reaching developed country levels, growing infrastructure, growing trade. Singapore regional trade could increase via UN ESCAP Asian Highway program driving cross-border transports.

　　o Changing demands – increasing focus on safety, quality and environmental care. Fits very well with Singapore ambitions. Volvo values! One of the reasons to launch our new, triple-branded, wholly-owned concept here in Singapore.

　　o Some of the most skilled, demanding and conscious customers are now in Asia and we need to interact directly with these to better learn about their current and latent needs.

　　§ Skilled. For the second year in a row, an Asian driver took home the Volvo Truck Fuelwatch trophy for best fuel-efficient driving in the world.

　　§ Demanding. Asian customers require innovation to keep up with their fast-paced changing daily life in the most dynamic continent on the planet. Volvo- the company that provided the seatbelt, turbo-injection, intercooler, safety cab, commercial hybrid powertrain, CO2-neutral production etc., - have a responsibility to provide solution.

　　§ Conscious. We are part of the problem with GHG – we will be part of the solution. As a part of this, I am pleased to announce that UD Trucks, as the first Japanese OEM will now launch the EU5 emission standard in Singapore, on par with Europe. Needless to point out, Volvo Trucks – the world’s only truly global commercial solutions provider – is already EU5 in Singapore since some time now.

　　· Transport efficiency is an essential component of any country’s development.

　　o Everything in this room has been at least once on a truck.

　　o The Volvo Group – a world leader in commercial transport solutions – will continue to be an industry pioneer, bringing the best products and solutions to our demanding customers here in Singapore and across Asia.

　　o Our new, state-of –the-art facility here in Singapore is one step on this journey and having inspected the facilities, I am confident to say that a new era of trucking excellence has now come to Singapore.

　　· Thank you for your loyalty and enduring support. Xie-xie nin.