CMEF

'China is a Very Big Market and Is a First Priority for Us'

2,000 exhibitors from 17 countries and 50,000 trade visitors participated in this grand event

Reinforcing its strong international focus, the 59th China Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF), Asia Pacific's largest medical device event took place at Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre, Shenzhen, China from April 18-21, 2008. This mega exhibition spread at 10,000 square meters of exhibition space, displayed a wide range of products and technologies.

Be it the best of imaging, diagnostics, critical patient care, electronics or other healthcare products and services for hospital and medical institutes, it was all available under one roof.

Reed Sinpharm Exhibitions (RSE) which established in the year 2005 as a joint venture between the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and Reed Exhibitions is now the organising body of CMEF that has been formulating international shows. CMEF takes place bi-anually in spring and autumn.

This year, the event saw an addition of two more new national pavilions from Ireland and Malaysia. Representing Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, UK and the US brought in a comprehensive portfolio of industry leading medical equipment and technologies to show participants.

"The diversity of pavilions featured at this season's event give participants myriad opportunities to trade and network with some of the world's leading medical device companies," said Hu Kun Ping, VP, RSE. "CMEF continues to be Asia Pacific's premier medical device event, offering value-added features to the international community, including a robust conference programme, networking events and broad spectrum of medical equipment and devices," he said further.

The Bigger Picture

The exhibition provided an ideal networking doorway to all the players including SMEs planning to enter the huge Chinese device market as well as to the already established multinationals in the region. To penetrate this huge market which is by and large open for the low and mid range products, the European SMEs are to file for approval by Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) with local help, then finding the distributor who sells the portfolio to the individual hospitals. Subsequently, the next step is to identify reliable Chinese partners to set up a subsidiary. Multinationals like Drager, GE and Siemens who are already present in the Chinese market have set up networks of distributors and research partners. Many players have established their manufacturing units in the region, however only few like Medtronic has created its wholly-owned subsidiary.

Opportunities Galore

2,000 exhibitors from 17 countries and approximately 50,000 trade visitors from the medical and healthcare industries participated in this year's event. Said George Cao, MD, GE Healthcare, "We are focused on supporting our customers. We help the medical community get closer to us."

Aloka, one of the participant companies in CMEF was originated in Japan and started its business in China in 1970. "We penetrated China in order to improve the ultrasound technology in China. We actually had an exchange programme through which we sent Chinese people to Japan to bring better technology to China," said Vice General Manager, Zhao Xue Song. Today the company is an innovator in black and white as well as colour ultrasound According to Zhao Xue Song, there is an increased demand of ultrasound technology to diagnose cardiovascular conditions, which is one of the major health concerns of China's aging population.

Beijing Wandong Medical Equipment is another company with significant share in radiology and in particular the X-ray systems. "We hope to facilitate positive climate for the US equipment, device and component exports to China through appropriate established channels and through trade promotion at shows like CMEF," opined Richard Craig, Commercial Officer, US Commercial Service, American Embassy Beijing.

The French pavilion particularly represented SMEs interested in doing business in the Chinese market. "French companies are very strong in the areas of orthpaedics, surgical orthopaedics and diagnostics," said Christiane Bonnaffoux, Project Manager Health, Medical Products Information and Promotion Division of UBIFRANCE, a French agency for international business development. "China is a very big market and is a first priority for us over India," she added. This international exhibition also brought to the forefront some very interesting innovations in medical technology. One of them was non-invasive test for pre-diabetes invented by Impeto Medical from France. "It gives fast results, is very easy-to-use and reduces staff capacity requirements," said Philippe Brunswick of Impeto Medical. The device tests the status of nerves which control the sweat gland system. The next CMEF event will be held from October 29- November 1 at Suzhou International Expo Centre, Suzhou, China, where the event will have its grand 60th anniversary celebration.

Sonal Shukla