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The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) is going to participate in the Saudi Healthcare Fair, which is turned to the hospital and dentistry equipment and product sector, for the first time.
The fair begins on Sunday, May 29, and is going on up to Thursday, June 2, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
At the Brazilian stand, which is going to have an area of 96 square meters, will be the representatives of the Association of the Manufacturers of Medical and Dental Products (Abimo), Hospimetal, which produces hospital equipment in the city of Araçatuba (in the interior of the state of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil), and the CCAB.
According to the director of Hospimetal, Wiliam Donisete de Paula, the company's main objective in Saudi Arabia is to get in contact with new clients, as the company does not yet export to the Arab countries.
"We believe that the region has a good market, with great potential," he said.
According to him, 20% of the Hospimetal production is turned to the foreign market. "We hope to get in contact with future distributors at the fair," he concluded.
Among the products made by the company are hospital and recovery beds, examination tables, armchairs and sofas, cupboards, headboards and grates.
Saudi Healthcare takes place in Saudi Arabia every two years and is at its 13th edition. In 2003, the fair had the participation of 350 exhibitors and 5,500 visitors from various parts of the world, among them Canada, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Italy, Kuwait, Pakistan, England and the United States.
The Market
According to figures supplied by the Saudi Ministry of Health, the country is the largest market for medical products and equipment in the Arabian Gulf.
The country imports 99% of all the medications and health products that are consumed in the country.
The Saudi government alone answers to 60% of the purchases of medical equipment in the Gulf region and 65% of the pharmaceutical products.
Still according to information supplied by the ministry, new projects for the construction of clinics and hospitals in the Arab country are going to increase the demand for all kinds of medical equipment.
The government estimates that sales of over the counter medications should exceed US$ 400 million by 2007, representing a growth of 24.3% when compared to sales in 2002.
The health sector receives the third largest budget from the Saudi government. Last year, investment in new projects in the area total led US$ 6.4 billion.
Exports by the Brazilian medical and hospital equipment industry total led US$ 317 million in 2004, resulting in an increase of 42.8% when compared to 2003.
The sector's target is to export US$ 870 million by 2010, which will answer to 1% of the world market, according to figures supplied by the Abimo.
ANBA - Brazil-Arab News Agency - www.anba.com.br
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