Today, Secretary of Commerce and president & CEO of Enterprise Florida (EFI) Gray Swoope announced that the EFI-led trip to Arab Health 2014 resulted in more than $111 million in total projected sales for 24 Florida life science companies. The show, held January 27-30 in Dubai, is the second-largest medical trade show worldwide. Florida has attended the show for nearly a decade and had the largest state pavilion this year.

“Florida has a very extensive life sciences sector, and the state is serious about strengthening its position as a leader in the industry,” said Secretary Swoope. “We want to help Florida’s life science companies grow and Arab Health gives participating companies the exposure needed to maintain success in Florida and expand their export sales.”

The Florida pavilion at Arab Health exhibited 24 life science companies with various specialties, including: ventilators, infusion pumps, syringe pumps, electrosurgical equipment, surgical sutures, patient monitoring systems, and defibrillator monitors. The Middle East is an expanding market with substantial opportunities for Florida companies to increase their exports. The show hosted more than 3,900 exhibitors from 64 countries with 38 dedicated country pavilions. The visitor numbers surpassed 81,000 attendees this year.

Companies in the Florida Pavilion this year included:

• Airon Corporation – Melbourne
• Alicia Diagnostics, Inc. – Chuluota
• Alfa Vitamins Laboratories – Miami
• AOTI, Inc. – Tamarac
• Atlas Specialty Lighting – Hialeah
• Bovie Medical Corp – St. Petersburg
• DemeTech Corporation – Boynton Beach
• Digicare Biomedical Technology – Boynton Beach
• Endoscopy Replacement Parts, Inc. – Newberry
• Excite Medical - Tampa
• Gaumard Scientific - Miami
• Genadyne Biotechnologies, Inc. – Fort Lauderdale
• GENICON – Winter Park
• Gulf Fiberoptics, Inc. - Oldsmar
• Integrity Life Sciences – Tampa
• Kopp Development Inc. – Jensen Beach
• Medicapture Digital, Inc. – Stuart
• Mercury Medical - Clearwater
• Neurovirtual USA, Inc. - Doral
• Phoenix Healthcare Solutions, LLC – Fort Lauderdale
• Rumex International – Clearwater
• STAT Medical Devices, Inc. – North Miami Beach
• Sun Med Healthcare – Largo
• US DEFIB MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES - Medley

“Digicare Biomedical Technology’s presence at Arab Health was a huge success due to the assistance we received from Enterprise Florida. Exhibiting in the Florida Pavilion distinguished Digicare as a U.S. manufacturer and drew more visitors to our booth. We had well over 100 visitors which will generate into new distributors in the Middle East.  We expect to develop long term relationships with these companies increasing our international sales. Enterprise Florida’s help is vital in helping small companies like Digicare become successful,” said Eduardo Miranda, President of Digicare Biomedical Technology. Based in Boynton Beach, Digicare Biomedical Technology designs and manufactures vital signs monitors.

“We generated a lot of interest as a result of the show from possible customers, giving us a great opportunity for increased revenue. In addition, receiving a grant from Enterprise Florida allowed us to invest in the growth of our business. Overall, participating in Arab Health with Enterprise Florida has been a complete success for our company,” said Amanda Felix, President and CEO of US DEFIB MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES. Based in Medley, US DEFIB makes defibrillator monitors.

EFI maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide.