1. Editor's Comment:

The Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe and northeastern Africa. The history of the region dates back to ancient times, and throughout its history the Middle East has been a major centre of world affairs.

In modern times the Middle East remains a strategically, economically, politically, culturally and religiously sensitive region. Insofar as the UK healthcare industry is concerned, present-day Middle East represents vast business opportunities and relationships, many of which are initiated, or ultimately sealed, at Arab Health in Dubai.

This issue includes a Sector Market Report from the present UKTI  International Trade Advisor (ITA) in Dubai, namely Victoria Cox. Other UKTI ITAs' reports are featured in section 3, together with an address book listing UKTI commercial personnel responsible for healthcare in the region.

This e-newswire also includes some UK distributors in its Business Opportunity page. For all those looking for business closer-to-home, it might be worth checking out the Business Opportunities in Section 5.

Theresa.

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2. International Business / Industry News and Notifications:

Global surgical company awarded prestigious ‘Made In Sheffield’ title:
The UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of surgical instruments has been awarded the prestigious ‘Made in Sheffield’ mark for all their products; symbolising their ongoing commitment to quality and excellence. 'Made In Sheffield’ is one of the world’s greatest brands, famous globally as a mark of origin and quality on the products that are manufactured in the city. More
[Source: Medilink & Humber, 12 August 2009]

Qatar aims to be robotic surgery hub:
Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre (QRSC), an initiative from Qatar Science & Technology Park, will sponsor the 12th international conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) at Imperial College London from September 20 to 24.  More   [Source: www.gulf-times.com, 14 September 2009]

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai partners with Hayati Healthcare:
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields) and Hayati Healthcare, the Middle East region’s first ever dedicated Patient Financing company, have announced an agreement through which patients at Moorfields can access the financial services and benefits offered by Hayati. More [Source: Source: BI-ME/14 September 2009]

Saudi rejects Haj flu fears, others worry:
Saudi Arabia has dismissed fears of swine flu striking the hundreds of thousands of Muslims expected normally to perform the Haj in Makkah despite other Arab nations’ concerns over the H1N1 virus. More [Source: Gulf Times, 17 September 2009]

Archived + More

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3. News from FCO; Market Updates from Commercial Officers:

ABHI has requested Commercial Officers from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan to provide up-to-date reports of activities and opportunities within their respective markets.

UKTI Commercial Officers are based in overseas commercial posts. ABHI liaises with, and seeks guidance from, the Commercial Officers specifically responsible for healthcare. The information provided, especially in terms of local market knowledge, is found to be highly relevant and invaluable.

U.A.E. (DUBAI): New
The private sector dominates the healthcare related services market in Dubai, with around 20 hospitals, 20 dental laboratories, 226 optical shops, 387 pharmacies and 62 drugstores. Apart from these, there are numerous medical distributor companies who cater to both the public and the private sector. The major players among these are City Pharmacy, Modern Pharmaceutical Company and Gulf Drug Establishment.

The healthcare sector is heavily reliant on foreign labour with more than 95% being foreign expatriates. More

LEBANON:
SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES IN HEALTHCARE
Lebanon is one of the most dynamic healthcare markets in the Arab region and is full of opportunities for British exporters. More

JORDAN:
Jordan's healthcare services and facilities are regionally recognised as very advanced. British exporters, consultants and training providers have potentially significant opportunities More.

A table of e-mail addresses for UKTI Commercial Officers in the Middle East

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4. This Issue's Feature - US$400 MILLION HOSPITAL BUILDING PROJECT OFFERS HOPE OF PROGRESS FOR PEOPLE OF IRAQ:

Three Facilities at Baghdad, Diyala and Diwaniya set to Open June 2011:

After years of sanctions, war and insurgency that have decimated the healthcare system of Iraq, the announcement that a contract has been signed for the construction of three 400-bed general teaching hospitals finally represents a significant step forward in the rebuilding of the country.

One of the UK’s foremost healthcare consultancies, MJ Medical, has been selected, along with their Lebanese partners, as the lead design consultants for the consortium who are to design, build and equip the state-of-the-art facilities in Baghdad, Diyala and Diwaniya. More

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5. International Business Opportunities:

Are you a UK healthcare company looking to expand your product range, or one seeking distribution overseas?

ABHI maintains an on-going listing of business opportunities in the healthcare sphere world-wide. Click here for a number of opportunities covering both requirements, as well as employment prospects.

New Business Opportunities in this issue includes opportunities from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman together with an opportunity vis-à-vis following up sales leads in Europe. You will note that some opportunities have direct contact details whereas for others it is preferable to go via the ABHI. If registering interest via the Association, contact information will be supplied to UK companies upon receipt of reference numbers.

 Spotlight on a distributor featured in listing:

Charlotte Fraser, Healthcare Technologies Sector Specialist, Medilink Yorkshire & Humber speaks to Mr Shahzad Yousaf Awan of the El Ewan Medical Company:

After succeeding in establishing a special needs/ rehabilitation care division, Saudi Arabian company Al Ewan Medical Company is looking to identify potential UK partners in the continence management, woundcare management and pharmaceuticals & biopharmaceuticals business. More

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6. ABHI Exhibitions and International Events:

ABHI Pavilions at Overseas Exhibitions:

Medical Fair Thailand, 16-18 September 2009:
Paul Benton, ABHI's Director - Commercial & International, has just return from Bangkok, where ABHI organised the UK pavilion at Medical Fair Thailand. The show was the fourth biennial trade fair in the series of 'medical trade shows' presented across the globe by the Messe Düsseldorf Group of companies.  More will follow on the success of this event in the next issue of this e-newswire.

Medica, Dusseldorf, 18-21 November 2009:
Medica remains the world’s largest exhibition for the medical technology industry attracting the top buyers, distributors, companies and government representatives from around the globe. It provides exhibitors with the opportunity to both develop and maintain business relationships in one location over 4 days that otherwise could take numerous business trips.
The ABHI is ready to continue with the success of last year's Medica.  Its space at the show is now sold-out, with 100+ companies exhibiting on the UK Pavilion. Medica.

Sponsorship Opportunities:

For companies unable to exhibit at Medica, yet would like to have a presence at the show, or for those already exhibiting but would like to have enhanced exposure, ABHI is offering a number of sponsorship packages. These include product showcases and literature slots.  Please note that all pods on-offer are now sold out.

Sponsorship Opportunities listed 

UKTI Commercial Officers visiting Medica as at 2.09.09:  Updated

Arab Health, Dubai, 25 -28 January 2010:
Arab Health is the largest and most prestigious healthcare event in the Middle East. Over 2,500 exhibitors attend from over 65 countries and over 50,000 visitors descend on Dubai for the four day exhibition in January. It has become a global show and for many companies the event to attend in the annual exhibition calendar. More

ABHI Exhibition Directories:

• WHO WILL BE EXHIBITING ON THE ABHI PAVILION AT MEDICA '09
• WHO WILL BE EXHIBITING ON THE ABHI PAVILION AT ARAB HEALTH 10
  
  Both directories are in the process of being up-dated.

If you wish to exhibit at Medica '10 or Arab Health '10, please log onto ABHI Exhibitions, clicking onto Medica and Arab Health, respectively.

The government offers grant assistance to help UK companies participate in exhibitions through their Trade Show Access Programme (TAP) .

For all exhibition enquiries e-mail: exhibitions@abhi.org.uk

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ABHI's Export Club Update:
ABHI’s Export Club provides exporters with an opportunity to share experiences and gain market information. The format for ABHI's Export Clubs includes a series of interactive case studies and industry expert sessions, whilst offering an informal setting in which to network.

29 October 2009 Medica; France, Italy and Germany
Medica is the world’s largest medical trade fair with over 137,000 trade visitors attending the four day trade show. The event will also discuss the opportunities available in the French, German and Italian healthcare markets.

Register your attendance here

10 December 2009; Arab Health; The Middle East
December's Export Club will focus on the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on Arab Health. The Middle East healthcare business is expected to be worth $60 billion by 2025* as the need for investment in services and facilities increases. It is the only region in the world that faces such a rapid increase in demand and this growth is creating a number of new opportunities for key stakeholders in the sector.

All write-ups extracted from Espicom Business Intelligence. www.espicom.com

ABHI’s full Events Listing 2009

ABHI UK Market Conference
24 November 2009
Venue: Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London SW7

Register + to view the Programme:
https://www.abhi-events.org.uk/ukmarketconference

This year’s ABHI UK market conference will provide an essential up-to-the-minute guide to new information, ideas and strategies and enable delegates to take advantage of the latest opportunities in the UK healthcare environment.

In 2009 the signals from the NHS towards the medical technology sector changed radically. In July Government stated that “UK life sciences have everything going for them: world-class facilities, talented scientists and entrepreneurial flair. By championing innovation, the NHS can support the life sciences industry in developing ways to improve people’s health.” Yet there are frequent reminders of cuts to come in the NHS budget over the next few years. “The NHS faces the biggest squeeze on its funding since it was founded in 1948, despite pledges by Labour and the Conservatives to spare health from spending cuts in the next parliament,” [King’s Fund/IFS, July 2009].

How will this affect your business? What are the opportunities? And what does 2010 hold? More

Registration and Sponsorship:
Space at the conference will be limited, with delegate rates starting at just £95. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. To enquire about either please email conferences@abhi.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7960 4360.

An invitation to visit ABHI; Monday, 26 October:

If interested in attending, please e-mail: angela.jeffery@abhi.org.uk

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7. UK Government Updates:

Advamed is the premier medical technology, business development, policy forum and capital formation event in the USA - the world’s largest Medical Technology market.

This Mission will showcase UK excellence in medical technology and elevate the visibility of British companies in the US market. Companies attending the mission will be able to access key contacts in the US, and inform them of the world-class R&D and innovation coming out of the UK. More

Health Technologies and Regenerative Medicine Mission; 22-26 February 2010:

EmergingTechnologies/Medical Technologies Conference

The British High Commission and UKTI in New Zealand are pleased to announce that they will host a UK-to-NZ mission in Health Technologies and Regenerative Medicine from February 22-26, 2010.

The mission will coincide with the Medical Technologies Association's Medical Technologies Forum "A Global Ambition - A Thriving MedTech Economy", held on February 23-24 in Auckland. Mission participants will also be able to attend the event.

Following the event, UKTI and the High Commission will host a one-day UK-NZ workshop in Auckland on Thursday 25 February, where participants may make their own presentations and enter into personal discussions with New Zealand organisations.

Please e-mail Steve.Thompson@fco.gov.uk and Paul.Tuckley@fco.gov.uk if you would be interested to join the mission, and respond to the questions below.

Questions for UK applicants

8. Other Associated International Activities:

Patron: HRH The Duke of York KG KCVO

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