Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to officially open this design event ‘Danish Design Fusion’. At the same time this opening officially marks another opening – Carl Hansen & Son’s showroom here in New York.

Danish design, or Danish Modern as it is sometimes referred to in the US, is world renowned. And it is no coincidence. In Denmark, we have an official design policy, an institute for design, the world largest cash design award: Index Award, and an official design week held every year in Copenhagen.

Design is a part of our legacy – of being Danish – and you could say almost part of our DNA. And for most Danish companies, design in all its aspects, plays a key role in innovating new products and services.

The city of New York and Danish design are closely connected. That connection started with Finn Juhl’s design of the Trusteeship Council Chamber in the UN in 1951-1952. Finn Juhl created a masterpiece of architecture and design – and marked the beginning of Danish Modern in the US.

Decades later, the Museum of Modern Art, has displayed Danish Modern and Danish design in all its shapes and forms. And in 2004, Denmark helped furnish the museum leaving a major foot print with more than 43.000 Danish design objects in the halls, restaurants and cafes of the museum.

But even more important, Danish design is displayed all over New York and the US: In office buildings, shops, restaurants and private homes.

A few years ago, Danish urban planner and professor in architecture Jan Gehl paved the way for 250 miles of bicycle lanes in New York City. And today architect Bjarke Ingels has been selected to build a trendsetting and environmentally friendly skyscraper at West 57th street.

Just a few months ago, the winners of the design contest for a new chair and new tables for the Trusteeship Council chamber at the UN were revealed at MOMA. Five upcoming Danish designers participated and they showed such talent and creativity that we may be seeing the emergence of a new golden age of Danish design here in New York.

Today Danish Modern leaves yet another foot print in New York. The doors have been opened to a major fusion of Danish design in an American context. In these rooms you will find some of the outstanding designs Denmark has to offer.

I am proud of the Danish design’s legacy. And I am excited about the promises it brings for the future.

Thank you.