Georgia's Life Science Exporters Travel to Dubai

Last week, Georgia Department of Economic Development Trade Manager Kerry Barnett traveled with six Georgia companies to Dubai to exhibit at the 2018 Arab Health tradeshow. Well-known as the largest exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa for businesses and industry professionals in the healthcare sector, this year's show featured more than 4,200 companies with 103,000 attendees from 150 countries.
International tradeshows present lucrative opportunities for Georgia companies to showcase their products, connect with potential partners and expand their global networks. However, small-to-medium sized companies are often deterred by the high cost of booth space and entry fees space that often accompany these high-profile tradeshows. GDEcD's Trade Division opens the door for Georgia companies by offering exhibitor benefits at a more manageable price tag, putting events like Arab Health within reach.

In addition to booth space at the shows, GDEcD's Trade Division provides specialized export assistance leading up to the event and after its conclusion. The six companies that traveled to Arab Health all benefited from customized market intelligence reports, introductions to key contacts and promotional listings in show materials.

Georgia exports of medical devices, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals exceeded $1.5 billion in 2016. With a strong product presence in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt Arab Health is an ideal venue to showcase the ground-breaking products and services emerging from Georgia's healthcare sector. This marked Georgia's fifth consecutive year exhibiting at Arab Health and GDEcD Trade Managers are already gearing up for their next major healthcare tradeshow – this time in Korea, another growing market for Georgia's medical industry.

Georgia's life science industry continues to show potential for rapid growth both domestically and abroad. Home to world-class assets for public health, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as headquarters for the American Cancer Society and American Red Cross, Georgia's robust life science ecosystem positions the state as a hub for healthcare innovation.

The Georgia companies that traveled with GDEcD to Arab Health are already seeing the benefits of attending an international tradeshow. The total anticipated value of deals resulting directly from participation in the Georgia booth is expected to reach upwards of $1 million. With healthcare spending in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries projected to reach $150 billion by 2020, future opportunities for Georgia companies in that region will continue to grow.

Georgia companies who exhibited in the Georgia, USA booth at Arab Health 2018 include:

Interested in learning more about GDEcD's trade programs and services? Visit us at Georgia.org/Trade or contact our Trade Outreach Manager at [email protected]. And don't forget to sign up for Trade's monthly newsletter to stay informed about upcoming tradeshow opportunities.