A delegation of 20 Irish healthcare companies participated in the 2022 edition of Arab Health this week, which took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Enterprise Ireland hosted an exhibition and facilitated attendance for leading Irish healthcare companies at this year’s Arab Health, including Aerogen, AceTech, Fleming Medical, CF Pharma Ireland Ltd, HealthSectorTalent, and HiberGene Diagnostics Ltd.
More than 200 meetings took place between Irish healthcare providers and buyers at Enterprise Ireland’s stand during the four-day show.
Several Irish companies supported by Enterprise Ireland are already enjoying much success in the region. With a presence in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, Irish company AceTech has built up business in the region worth €10m, working in the areas of safety, patient care and AI software for several ambulance services in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and cities.
L-R: William Cargill, VP global sales and exports Vitalograph; Ross Warner, VP of marketing Vitalograph; health minister Stephen Donnelly; and Conor Fahy, regional director, MENA region Enterprise Ireland
Aerosol medication delivery systems
Galway-based company Aerogen, a leader in aerosol medication delivery systems, opened an office in Dubai in 2018 and has grown business significantly in the region since the start of the pandemic. Most recently, the company announced a major deal with Gulf Medical, a market leader in medical device distribution in Saudi Arabia.
Fleming Medical began operating in the region in 2014, and currently service over 1,800 retail stores in several GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Oman. This year, the company plans to expand operations into Iraq and North Africa, growing business by 25% by the end of 2023.
With an increase of over 40% in Irish companies participating at the Arab Health exhibition this year compared to 2020, it demonstrates strong progress in the momentum in the region being achieved as part of the reinvigorated strategy by Enterprise Ireland to increase Irish healthcare exports to the UAE and wider region.
The title of this year’s event was ‘United by business, forging ahead’, reflecting the importance that new technologies and innovation have in today’s rapidly changing global healthcare industry. More than 3,500 exhibitors took part in the exhibition, which aims to connect manufacturers and service providers with clinicians, procurement professionals, dealers and distributors.
During his visit to Expo 2020 Health Week in Dubai, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, TD, visited the Arab Health exhibition, where he met with a number of Irish companies at the Ireland stand.
'One of the biggest exhibitions of its kind anywhere in the world'
Minister Donnelly said: “I am delighted to have been here in Dubai at the Arab Health exhibition, 2022, and to meet with the Irish healthcare companies who are participating in Arab Health, supported by Enterprise Ireland. This is one of the biggest exhibitions of its kind anywhere in the world, showcasing the latest healthcare innovations, and it is great to see so many Irish companies here at an event showcasing the future of healthcare.”
Deirdre Glenn, director of life sciences at Enterprise Ireland, said: “Irish medtech companies proved how agile and flexible they are during the pandemic. Our focus has now turned to the post-Covid world, and how the pandemic has changed healthcare, both in terms of how we access it and in terms of how it is delivered. A lot of eyes are on Irish innovators, some of whom have already come up with exciting solutions.”
“Ireland has long been a leader in the medtech world. Our success is down to a combination of track record and forward thinking and a deep pool of experience and highly trained talent. This is boosted by a fertile ecosystem that integrates industry, research and the clinical community to promote high-quality innovation."