Arab Health, the Dubai-based healthcare expositions organizer has invited Indian healthcare industry to participate in the 'Arab Health 2005' exhibition that to be held between February 12 and 15, 2005.

Simon Page, Health Projects Manager, Arab Health, addressing a gathering at a seminar on Indo-Arab trade opportunities and road show at Hyderabad on Monday said that 28 Indian companies have participated in the event that held last year and hoped the number would go up this year. We want to encourage co-operation between India's healthcare industry and from West Asia. Over 1500 companies from 34 countries have already registered for the event. The upcoming expo is expected to attract at least 25 per cent more participants than the previous year's.

The global interest in the region's heath care sector has been inflated by a number of major medical projects within West Asia, including Dubai Healthcare City and the International Medical Centre at Jeddah, an expanding population and the emergence of countries in the region as potential destinations for healthcare tourism, Simon added.

He said, the event will allow Indian Pharma companies to enter into alliances with partners who can market drugs in respective regions. Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia are all attractive markets for pharmaceuticals industry.

KG Anil Kumar, general secretary, Indian Pharmaceutical Forum, Abu Dhabi (UAE), said that the event is the best platform for linking Indian and Arab companies that deal in healthcare industry, particularly the pharma companies that are keen to export their drugs. The Indian pharma companies can meet Drugs authorities which can help them in registration of their drugs.

M Gopala Krishna, chairman, AP State Financial Corporation, said, herbal and natural products have good demand in the Arab region. Indian pharma companies can target the region since the ability to afford quality drugs is more. The region has shown good Unani practices in the past. Various opportunities are available for Indian and Arab countries to take up collaborative work, and Arab Health will allow exchange of experiences and valuable information about the participating nations.