Press release
Minister Dara Calleary leads the Trade Mission to Arab Health Dubai
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
Signalling the importance of Arab Health to Irish companies in the Medtech, healthcare, and life sciences sectors, Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation, Dara Calleary will lead a trade mission to Arab Health Dubai from 29 January to 2 February. 21 Irish companies, supported by Enterprise Ireland will be exhibiting at this important healthcare event.
Commenting on Ireland’s participation at Arab Health, Ireland’s Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation, Dara Calleary, said:
"I am delighted to visit Dubai to meet our long-standing partners as well as have the opportunity to engage with new ones in the healthcare sector. With Ireland’s strength and expertise in developing world leading innovation, Irish companies are well positioned to provide solutions that healthcare providers need in the region. Globally, the Irish Medtech industry exports to over 100 countries every year, worth over €13 billion, making Ireland the second-largest exporter of Medtech products in Europe."
He added:
"Dubai and the wider region is a key market for Irish companies to bring their innovation across a range of sectors, and this is evidenced by the year on year growth in exports. In 2021, we saw a 7% percent rise in Enterprise Ireland supported exports to the Middle East to €131.9 million, all of which was brilliantly supported by our network of Enterprise Ireland market advisors based right across this region."
Minister Calleary welcomed a series of key announcements and partnerships taking place this week by several of the Enterprise Ireland supported companies participating at Arab Health including a new major strategic partnership between the UAE’s leading healthcare provider, American Hospital Dubai and Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government agency for innovation and trade, that will pave the way for increased access to world leading healthcare innovation from Ireland.
At American Hospital Dubai, Minister Calleary, witnessed the signing of the partnership by Sherif Beshara, Group Chief Executive Officer at American Hospital and Jennifer Melia, Executive Director of Enterprise Ireland.
This partnership will provide gateway opportunities for Irish companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to collaborate with the American Hospital Dubai to solve health challenges and increase access to cutting edge healthcare innovation.
Focused on advancing health and life science through commercialisation, innovation and research, the partnership is designed to bolster collaboration and improvement of patient health and care experience through innovative medical devices, digital health solutions, and therapeutics. Research collaboration will focus on identifying opportunities for clinical research and clinical trial activities.
Welcoming the new strategic partnership, Minister Dara Calleary said:
"Ireland is a leading developer and supplier of healthcare innovation and one of the world’s top five global medtech hubs, working with the healthcare community to help improve patient outcomes, and ultimately helping clinicians to save lives. Today’s landmark announcement by American Hospital Dubai and Enterprise Ireland will open the door to further healthcare innovation and even closer collaboration between Ireland and the UAE."
Sherif Beshara, CEO of American Hospital Dubai, welcoming the partnership, said:
"It is a privilege to be the first private healthcare facility in the Middle East to join hands with Enterprise Ireland on this landmark partnership. As a healthcare leader, American Hospital Dubai has always invested in the power of partnerships for the greater good because we believe knowledge-sharing, education and capacity-building are the best tools to shape transformation. Our comprehensive collaboration with Enterprise Ireland will open new horizons in healthcare innovations, patient care and medical solutions, and we are excited to explore the opportunities together."
Commenting on key announcements and partnerships taking place, Jennifer Melia, Executive Director Enterprise Ireland said:
"Enterprise Ireland is delighted to secure this new strategic relationship with American Hospital. It further validates what Ireland has to offer in healthcare provision and medical technology worldwide and presents significant opportunities for innovative Irish companies to commercialise and co-develop new innovations within the UAE market. By working closely together, building trusted relationships and forming new ones, we hope to create more jobs and prosperity for both countries. There are many great examples of Irish healthcare companies, who are competing and winning against global competition, through innovation and this fact is acknowledged in the calibre of Irish companies attending Arab Health this week."
These announcements include:
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government's trade and innovation agency. We invest in the most innovative Irish companies through all stages of their growth and connect them to international customers across multiple industries. Our goal is to build successful, long-term business relationships between international companies and Irish partners. With 40 offices worldwide including the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Enterprise Ireland's teams of industry experts consult with international businesses to understand and solve their business needs.
A premier private healthcare provider in the Middle East, American Hospital was established in 1996 with the goal of delivering the most effective and advanced medical care to people across the full spectrum of health conditions, through diagnosis, treatment, and management. The 254-bed, acute care, general medical/surgical private hospital has state-of-the-art facilities and an experienced team of healthcare professionals specialized in more than 40 medical and surgical specialties assuring comprehensive care.
Other Enterprise Ireland client companies showcasing Ireland’s strength in the Medtech industry on the Ireland pavilion at Arab Health include: