NI Presence At Arab Health Exhibit

Products from 11 Northern Ireland companies will be on show in the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress in Dubai, from 23-26 January, the largest event of its type in the Middle East.

Eight of the companies will be showcased on the Invest Northern Ireland stand at the show, which attracts leading manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors from the Middle East and further afield.

Three companies – Randox Laboratories, Crumlin, Armstrong Medical, Coleraine and Fortress Diagnostics, Antrim – have their own stands at the exhibition.

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, commenting on the exhibition, said: “Arab Health is now firmly established within life sciences as an important springboard for companies wishing to do business in the Gulf, Middle East, South Asia and further afield.

“The exhibition and associated medical congress are expected to attract more than 72,000 healthcare professionals from across the world. It has become an extremely important networking occasion for the global healthcare, business, medical and scientific community.

"Opportunities for Northern Ireland companies are extensive because private sector organisations and governments in key regions of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, are still investing heavily in the development of modern facilities and services. Health spending across the region is currently worth in excess of $80 billion annually.

"The decision to expand our existing operation in Dubai to become the hub for our trade activities in the Gulf, Middle East, India and South Asia was influenced by the scale of business opportunities developing across this region. Several local healthcare companies are already working with our expert teams in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and India to explore new business opportunities.

"Our stand will focus on Northern Ireland's extensive capability in life sciences and medical devices particularly in terms of conditions such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension which are now major causes of concern."

The Northern Ireland companies will be among 3,000 exhibitors from 60 countries. The show will also feature 32 country pavilions including new presentations from Japan, Hong Kong, Argentina and Singapore.

(CD/DW)