Arab Health 2011 Yields Positive Outcome For Malaysian Firms
DUBAI, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies that participated in the recent Arab Health 2011 exhibition here, bagged confirmed orders worth up to US$1.47 million as well as US$212.17 million in potential sales.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said among the items that showed high potential were surgical and latex gloves, medical syringes, pharmaceutical products, medical furniture and equipment, rubber products, health and personal care items as well as herbal products.
"A number of Malaysian companies have indicated that they're in the final stage of negotiations with several local companies to act as importing agents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Middle East region," Matrade Dubai's senior trade commissioner, Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud told Bernama.
Twenty nine Malaysian healthcare providers, including 14 who came here under Matrade, participated in the Jan 24-27 exhibition, billed as the largest healthcare show in the Middle East, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.
Dzulkifli said the Malaysian booths generated a great deal of interest among visitors from countries like Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and others.
Arab Health 2011 brought together over 2,300 companies from more than 65 countries, including 30 national pavilions. More than 25,000 trade visitors attended the exhibition and conference held during the event.
Dzulkifli noted that the Middle East region in general, and the UAE in particular, was experiencing tremendous growth in the healthcare sector despite the global economic slowdown.
"The growth is attributed to a number of factors, such as a relatively virgin market, fast-growing population, liberal trade policies, adaptation of international standards in healthcare, as well as the fact that governments now recognise the need to provide high-quality healthcare to the population through privatisation," he said.
According to the trade official, the market for healthcare products and services in the Arab region was comparable to that of any developed part of the world.
He cited an industry estimate indicating, that the healthcare market in the region was worth around US$74 billion.
"The region still seems very buoyant and the healthcare sector has not yet shown any sign of being affected by the global economic slowdown. In fact, by 2025, the Middle East is expected to spend over US$60 billion on new healthcare facilities," said Dzulkifli.
He said industry figures showed that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region would require in excess of 25,000 additional beds by 2020 to address the growing demand for in-patient treatment.
He also alluded to the "Dubai Healthcare City", a project costing US$1.8 billion, launched by the Dubai government in 2004.
He highlighted that the initiative, which aims to tap into the lucrative medical and healthcare needs of around two billion people who live between Europe and East Asia, had been a success.
"As the UAE plans to become the hub for healthcare services in the region, many renowned companies from the entire world, have already made their presence in Dubai Healthcare City," he said.
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