Enterprise Ireland Dubai, the regional arm of the Irish government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets, welcomed Minister Costello TD, Irish Minister of State for Trade and Development to its pavilion at this year's Arab Health exhibition.
The organisation is fundamental in creating links between Irish businesses and overseas partners to build mutually profitable international commerce relationships - a role in which the life sciences sector is playing an increasingly important part. In 2011, healthcare companies represented 10% of Enterprise Ireland's total exporters in the MENA region, a figure that is expected to increase dramatically to around 40% over the next three years.
Enterprise Ireland is joined at Arab Health by 14 of its leading client companies within the industry. On the National stand these include AmRay Medical (provider of radiation protection products), Finesse Medical (wound care), Lincor (healthcare IT), Millmount Healthcare (pharmaceutical packaging & storage), Oneview (healthcare IT), Sims IVF (Ireland's largest fertility clinic), Takumi Precision (medical aid manufacturers) and Tog Orthotics (manufacturer of orthotic products).
Minister Costello said, "Ireland is well established as a global centre of excellence in the area of medical technology. The sector brings together multinational companies and Irish owned companies - employing 25,000 people - and we are bringing representatives of both to Dubai to participate in Arab Health."
He continued, "The sector is of enormous importance to Ireland but we are not resting on our laurels. The Government and the medical technology sector together continue to support research-led innovation, to ensure that we remain at the forefront of this industry."