With great pleasure, I warmly welcome the delegates of the 21^st Asian Battery Conference convening in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. This esteemed gathering takes place in the capital of the State of Sabah under the backdrop of Mt Kinabalu.

Even in “far off” places like Borneo, the lead-acid battery plays a vital role in people’s lives, from its traditional automotive role to remote energy storage and backup systems. We must continually assess where the energy market is moving and ensure we are at the forefront of these changes. The many challenges we face do not get any easier, but I’m sure there will be rigorous discussion and debate on this and many other topics during the week.

The Technical Committee has focused on a balanced programme that addresses the technical and commercial aspects of a growing and evolving industry. Over forty-five speakers will present on a wide range of topics covering many areas, including the current market conditions throughout the world’s regions. They will give us a better understanding of the mysteries of carbon and where our market is heading, as well as outline the latest developments in battery production.