MEDITECH 2005 generates record business for regional and global exhibitors

Suppliers and manufacturers from all over the world, including developed countries such as US, UK, Germany, Australia and France, showcased new generation equipment, with an eye on the booming medical supplies markets in the MENA region.
Organised by ACG and supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Health & Population, the third annual show helped focus on the specific needs of the region and brought medical institutions and practitioners in direct contact with global companies.

Nourhan Alla, Marketing Manager, El Ezaby Medical Co, exhibitor at the show commented, 'Meditech is an ideal boost for the medical industry as participating exhibitors have already conducted regional research and are aware of market trends. Trade and negotiation is facilitated by the fact that only interested local and international organizations participate, and visitors are of high quality.'

Egypt is experiencing significant growth following modernisation programmes and increased private participation in the health sector. The Egyptian government has launched a five-year programme of upgrading medical facilities and the Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt has undertaken an ambitious Health Sector Reform Programme (HSRP) to modernise the nation's health system by offering more opportunities for private companies to play a major role at the health sector developing plans.

'The healthcare sector is among the most vibrant in the Middle East, as the region is experience high economic growth and better standards of living. As a result, governments and private medical institutions are keen to introduce the most modern medical facilities for the people,' said Ahmed Ghozzi, Chairman of ACG, organizers of the show.

'These factors have boosted MEDITECH's scope tremendously this year and we saw increased participation from advanced countries keen to satisfy increased demand from the Middle East,' added Ghozzi. 'We were delighted by the response and anticipate that the show will get even larger next year.'

Meditech 2005, held from 22nd to the 25th of September at the Cairo International Fair Ground in Egypt, is the international exhibition for medical technology and instruments. Its exhibitor profile was expanded to include additional medical sectors in response to the area's medical requirements and the exhibition is expected to boast a remarkable increase in trade visitors and exhibitors this year, thus providing an ideal platform to serve the strategic health modernization plans in Egypt and the region.

Abdallah Kaddah, undersecretary of curative care at the Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt said, 'The advance of globalization has made it imperative that Egypt engages in interchange of experience with foreign medical corporations. Comparison and competition encourages improvement, with firms emulating others' best practices.'

MEDITECH's significance as trade platform is supplemented by its location in Egypt, the largest producer and consumer of pharmaceuticals in the MENA region contributing to 30 per cent of the supply in the MENA markets.

'MEDITECH has become a major platform for highlighting medical technology from all over the world and is an ideal forum for suppliers, clients and managers to support and establish networks that will ultimately result in better medical services for the entire region,' concluded Ghozzi.