Arab Lab and Instrumentation Show to provide improved business networking platform to exhibitors and trade visitors

This was announced by International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E) at a press conference held today, (Tuesday, January 20, 2004) at the Novotel Hotel, Dubai.

Speakers at the press conference today included Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, IC&E, the organisers of the Arab Lab and Instrumentation Show, Abdul Salam Al Madani, Managing Director, INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions, organisers of the Arab Lab conference and Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Mohammed Qasimi, Assistant Director, Dubai Central Laboratory Department, Dubai Municipality. Also speaking was Dr. Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, Chairman Arab Lab Conference and Head of Department of Genetics, Al Wasl Hospital and Dr. Moza Al Sharhan, Vice-Chairman Arab Lab Conference and Head of Department of Histopathology, Dubai Hospital.

The organisers also announced that the 1st Arab Lab Conference, to be held alongside the show, will provide exhibitors and trade visitors with a preview of diagnostic technologies and strategies of the future under development in research and development labs worldwide.

"The government is aiming at making the UAE the centre of world-class medical facilities for the region. At the same time, Dubai is emerging as a regional commercial and tourist hub, with the city and consequently the UAE acquiring high international visibility. All these factors combined have prompted many global players in the medical technologies industry to explore the commercial viability of establishing a direct presence in Dubai," said Anselm Godinho.

"Arab Lab will set the stage for these international players to explore the market. On the other hand, one fifth of the exhibition space is occupied by UAE based lab technology and solutions providers, making the group one of the largest contingents in the exhibition," said Godinho.

Dr. Qasimi, Assistant Director, Dubai Central Laboratory Department, Dubai Municipality, said: "DCL's participation in the Arab Lab and Instrumentation Show provides us with a forum to inform trade visitors of the services offered by DCL, as well as to detail the foundations upon which the various governmental regulations are based. This process is an important step in building awareness about the need for quality testing, standardization and certification."

"Like every other field that is dependent on technological advances, it is extremely important for a laboratory team to keep itself informed of not just the new technologies that come into the market, but also of improved techniques and strategies of laboratory workflow. Once again, in this context the Arab Lab and Instrumentation Show has been playing an exemplary role, first with its in-show seminars and now with the proposed Arab Lab Conference," added Dr. Qasimi.

Mr. Al Madani, Managing Director, INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions, said, "The new agreement between both organizers, INDEX and IC&E, will add additional scientific value to the exhibition and benefit all concerned departments and personnel related to the Laboratory field within the region and internationally. We have marketed the conference throughout the Arab region, North Africa, Russia, India and Iran and we expect a large number of attendees."

"The cooperation between IC&E and INDEX for the first time in Dubai will further support all industrialists and attendees of the Arab Lab exhibition encouraging more participation in both the conference and exhibition in Dubai. INDEX looks forward to an even closer future cooperation with IC&E in various sectors and wishes the best to those involved in the Arab Lab Committee," he continued.

In 2003 for the 11th show, 6500 trade visitors from more than 50 countries visited the show and more than 350 exhibitors from over 36 countries showcased the innovations in their respective field of lab technologies. This year the number of exhibitors is expected to reach over 400, from an estimated 40 countries. Besides the UAE, the forthcoming show has registered strong representation from Austria, France, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA.

"The non-medical target sectors for the lab industry, manufacturing, environment, petrochemicals and education, have also witnessed increased investment in cutting-edge lab technologies," said Godinho. "In fact, at last year's show, 68 per cent of exhibitor space was dedicated to laboratory technology outside the medical field. And the potential of lab technologies for these industries is set to grow."