It is my great pleasure to participate in the 2022 China Development Forum on behalf of the Bosch Group. I really wish I could travel to China and meet you in person. Unfortunately, this is still not possible, but I’m delighted to have the opportunity to attend this forum digitally and connect with our friends and partners in China.
Two years into the pandemic, our lives and businesses have been altered in many ways, big and small. Despite the immense uncertainty and numerous challenges, we’re now better prepared for changes than two years ago, and can focus on what’s at stake for our future.
China is home to roughly 20 percent of the world’s population. There is no doubt that the country will play a key role in securing a sustainable future for everyone on the planet. With technology that is ‘Invented for life’, Bosch is committed to helping the Chinese people improve their quality of life while preserving their environment for future generations.
China is far more than a huge market for the Bosch Group. With our 113-year history in China and over 55,000 associates in the country, Bosch sees China as our ‘home away from home’. As part of our ‘local for local’ strategy, Bosch has been investing heavily in our people, manufacturing facilities, and innovation capabilities in China.
Since 2020, China has been the largest single market for Bosch. In 2021, Bosch in China achieved record sales of about 128 billion CNY, which represented a year-on-year increase of 9.1 percent.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our associates for their resilience and hard work, and thank our customers and business partners in China for their unwavering trust. We also greatly appreciate the tremendous efforts that China’s government has put into securing a stable and safe business environment despite all the recent challenges.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming China Development Forum, and the chance to exchange thoughts with experts and delegates from all over the world. On behalf of the entire board of management here at Bosch, I wish all of you a healthy and prosperous Year of the Tiger. Thank you very much!