Arab Health receives Indian and Australian VIPs

Dr. Suresh Prabhu, Member of Parliament, Union Cabinet Minister and Chairman of the Indian Government's Task Force on Interlinking Rivers and former Minister for Petroleum and Fertilisers was at the show to support the Abu Dhabi-based NMC (New Medical Centre) Group .

He toured the company's pavilion and other Indian stands with B.R. Shetty, CEO and Managing Director of the NMC Group.

"Arab Health is an excellent exhibition and one reason I came was to see the latest innovations, products and services in the pharmaceutical sector since I have been connected with this industry," said Dr. Prabhu.

"The Indian pharmaceutical sector is doing very well globally and actually sells more products outside the country than in India itself, particularly to Europe and the USA. Our country is also emerging as a global R&D hub because the cost of conducting research in India is half that of elsewhere.

"We have good laboratories and are becoming strong in the field of gene mapping.

"We aim to play a bigger role in the global pharmaceutical market and Arab Health is one vehicle we could use to assist this aim."

The Minister went on to commend B. R. Shetty, a key player in the Gulf's healthcare scene, for his entrepreneurial spirit and the outstanding role played by the NMC Group is becoming a regional pharmaceutical force.

"I genuinely hope this company will go on to become a global player," he said. "I also hope that more entrepreneurs will be encouraged by the NMC Group's success and step up to the mark to make a name for themselves."

Later Australia's Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Noel Campbell visited the Australian pavilion at Arab Health. Ambassador Campbell said he was impressed with the range of Australian products on display, which includes hi-tech offerings from ultrasound scanners to conventional products such as sheepskin blankets.

Campbell said bilateral trade between the UAE and Australia is now running at US $2 billion annually.

"Arab Health is an incredible event," he said. "This is clearly an excellent venue for Australian companies to promote their expertise and build stronger regional ties. It was good to see the mix of Australian companies exhibiting at Arab Health - some for the third or fourth time, others for the first time and looking for an entry into the market."

Arab Health 2004 - the largest ever in the annual series - closes tonight (January 21) at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC). The event features 1,600 exhibitors from over 50 countries and 25 national pavilions. It fills eight DIEC halls.

Meanwhile, IIR Exhibitions and Conferences, which organises Arab Health said the 2005 event, which will mark the title's 30th anniversary, is likely to break all previous records in terms of exhibition space booked.

"I confidently expect Arab Health to continue its strong growth to 20,000 square metres and include an enlarged conference programme," said John Hassett, Exhibitions Director of IIR's Healthcare Division.

Arab Health 2005 will be at the DIEC from February 12-15 next year.

Arab Health is organised by IIR Exhibitions with official support from the UAE Ministry of Health and the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services. The event's leading sponsor is Dubai Healthcare City - one of the most innovative healthcare projects in the world.