RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that 10 Virginia healthcare companies will market their products and services at Arab Health 2016, the largest healthcare exhibition and conference in the Middle East, and the second largest in the world. The 2016 exhibition will showcase more than 4,000 companies exhibiting their latest innovations to more than 130,000 healthcare professionals attending from 163 countries. Arab Health 2016 will be held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, January 25 – 28.
VEDP is leading the Virginia delegation that includes American Orthotic and Prosthetic Center Inc.; Breathe Healthy; ContraVac Inc.; EOS Surfaces LLC; LC Technologies Inc.; LiftOffHealth; Precise Portions; Vibrent Health; VitaTech Electromagnetics LLC; and ZH Healthcare.
Arab Health 2016 presents a major international sales venue for the Virginia healthcare industry in the Middle East.
“We are honored to have been selected to be a part of the team representing Virginia at Arab Health 2016,” said Ann-Marie Stephens, Owner of Precise Portions of Richmond. “We know that the obesity levels are rising in the Middle East for both children and adults. We know that obesity is on the radar screen of the leaders of that region, and many are looking for solutions to address childhood obesity and diabetes. This opportunity allows us to learn more about how to best adapt what we do to fit the needs of the Middle East nations. By being in-market, the firsthand knowledge and on-the-ground insight we will gain will allow us to propel our international sales. Since Precise Portions is the only company of its kind exhibiting at Arab Health, this will mark Virginia as a state that supports innovation, international business development and entrepreneurs. We can’t wait. Thank you, Virginia!”
Gus Stuhlreyer with EOS Surfaces, a solid surface manufacturer specializing in surfaces for healthcare applications, added, “All the important healthcare decision-makers in the Middle East and beyond come to Arab Health, making this a great opportunity to meet potential customers and develop new international contacts in the healthcare industry. Our company truly appreciates the opportunity to be a member of the Virginia delegation that promotes Virginia healthcare companies to the rest of the healthcare world.”
Participation in Arab Health 2016 is made possible through the State Trade Export Program (STEP) grant awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration to Virginia to encourage the development of international business for Virginia companies. This grant helps Virginia small businesses enter international markets by attending international trade shows, translating websites, completing international market research, etc. Virginia’s match to secure the STEP grant was made possible through the launch of the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL) in July 2015. VITAL is part of Governor McAuliffe’s efforts to grow and diversify Virginia’s economy.
“In 2014, more than 86 percent of Virginia’s exporting companies were small and medium-sized companies with fewer than 500 employees, and these firms generated more than 28% of Virginia’s total products exported,” said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Helping Virginia small businesses sell their products and services abroad is one of our most effective business expansion strategies, and the STEP grant is enabling us to do just that.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, a marketing organization, was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP offers numerous programs to assist Virginia companies sell into the global marketplace.