The seventh HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical Devices and Supplies Fair concluded its three-day run yesterday. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA), the fair welcomed more than 10,000 buyers, a slight increase of 1.2 per cent over the previous year.
Strong demand in the silver market
The United Nations estimates that, by 2050, there would be 2.1 billion people aged 60 or above, accounting for 25 per cent of the world’s population. This trend has boosted demand for healthcare products tailored to elderly care and rehabilitation and buyers at the Medical Fair were keen to source such products.
Eyeing the massive business opportunities related to the silver market, Delta Pyramax Engineering Ltd. from Hong Kong, which previously specialised in the building-related materials business, has extended its scope to include the distribution of medical devices over the past decade. At the fair this year, the company displayed an electric and ergonomic toilet aid from the Netherlands, designed for the elderly and patients with limited mobility. Webby Lau, the company’s Marketing Manager said, “Our company has been participating in the Medical Fair for the past few years. Traffic is good at this year’s fair. We have met many potential customers whose response to elderly products was better than last year. We will continue to explore business cooperation with these new contacts in the hope of establishing long-term relationships with them.”
There is a growing trend of people at an early age being diagnosed with dementia. Hong Kong’s Janley Ltd. showcased its German Memoriana Dementia Room Concept at its debut exhibition this year. This room-setting service can simulate a patient’s home environment in a hospital room with rehabilitation features added to the room’s furnishings. The company’s Managing Director, Jeffrey Tai, said, “There is a growing demand for elderly home care and rehabilitation products. Many local hospitals and elderly homes have come to us and expressed strong interest in our products. We are in talks with a number of new and existing customers to develop business opportunities and we are positive about growth in the elderly medical supplies market.”
Household medical products sought after
This year’s Medical Fair welcomed more than 260 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions. Fifteen product zones showcased a variety of healthcare equipment, products and services and provided an important business platform for the healthcare industry.
Household medical products and services are becoming more common. Hong Kong exhibitor Illies East Asia Ltd. exhibited its mobile electrocardiograph (ECG) device. By simply placing the device on the user’s finger or chest, it can take an ECG reading in just 30 seconds. The records can also be shared with medical professionals immediately via a mobile app. Sebastian Behler, Illies’s Department Director, Healthcare Technologies, said, “We’ve received strong enquiries from a lot of buyers from different places about this product, including buyers from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, India, Malaysia and Ireland. Some of them have bought samples from us. The results are very encouraging and we are positive about the prospects for further business development.”
A first-time exhibitor APL Group Pty Ltd. from Australia sells and distributes healthcare and medical equipment in Australia and the Asia Pacific region, with a focus on automated external defibrillators (AEDs). General Manager Julian Cosgrave said the Medical Fair has helped his company explore the Hong Kong and Asia Pacific markets. “Many buyers have expressed keen interest in our products, including those from Hong Kong, India, Pakistan and the Philippines. The fair really opens up business opportunities and increases the industry’s awareness about AEDs.” Mr Cosgrave said the Medical Fair has successfully brought together a large number of buyers and he was very impressed with the results. He hopes to return to the fair annually to grow the brand’s presence in the region.
Also making its debut at the fair was Sweden’s ENTpro AB, a manufacturer and supplier of medical devices sold in Europe, the US and Japan. The company spotlighted a series of devices for people suffering from nasal allergies. These included a nasal rinsing devise and an innovative solution to stop snoring. Peter Ahnblad, Founder of ENTpro AB, said he considered the Medical Fair helpful for companies entering the Asian markets and particularly Hong Kong. He said, “We have received overwhelming responses from retailers and distributors enquiring about our products, including buyers from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the Chinese mainland. At least four Hong Kong companies have expressed interest in distributing our products. We will decide on the right partners going forward."
Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a high-tech medical and pharmaceutical company based in Guangzhou, coming to source at the fair. The company specialises in manufacturing Chinese medicine and medical research. Engineer Shi Zhi Wei said the company was actively expanding in the fields of life science and precise medical treatment. They joined the fair to find new products and learn about the latest market trends. “We are interested in the advanced bone cement exhibited at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation booth,” Mr Shi said. “We also hope to explore cooperation opportunities with The Chinese University of Hong Kong in the research and development of wound dressings. The fair has brought together a selection of advanced medical equipment and products and provided the industry with a great opportunity to exchange ideas.”
Immense business opportunities in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia represents a massive market, and buyer attendance from the region was satisfactory. Concoll Inc. is a medical equipment distributor in the Philippines that provides advanced medical equipment to various government institutions and hospitals in the country. John Barry A. De Jesus, CEO, visited the Medical Fair for the first time this year. “We have found a number of exhibitors from Korea, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland and talked to them about supplying medical devices such as ECG equipment and video laryngoscopes. I am very positive about placing orders with them.”
India’s Biomed Healthtech (P.) Ltd. is an importer and distributor of overseas high quality medical equipment in India. Mukesh Daftary, the company’s President, pointed out that India’s ageing population had boosted the country’s demand for elderly products. He said the company had come to the fair to look for different home care and rehabilitation products. “I have found more than 10 suppliers from the Chinese mainland and will be getting more product information and pricing details from them. We will then conduct market research to test the response of consumers. Initial orders may range from several thousand US dollars to US$10,000 for each product. If sales are positive, bigger orders will be made.”
To help industry professionals garner market intelligence and expand their business networks, the HKTDC organised a series of seminars, forums and workshops during the Medical Fair to examine topics ranging from the latest industry developments to international regulations for medical devices. The Hospital Authority Convention 2016 was also held alongside the Medical Fair, creating more opportunities for interaction between industry players. The conference was attended by more than 5,000 healthcare professionals. Also held in parallel with the Medical Fair was the Asia Biotech Invest Conference, which offered biotech companies in the Asia Pacific region a platform for cooperation and information exchange.
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