L-R: Sean Davis, Regional Manager - Middle East and North Africa, Enterprise Ireland, Joe Costello TD, Minister for Trade and Development and Eamon Sikafi, Life Sciences Market Advisor - Dubai, Enterprise Ireland.

The Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, traveled to the Middle East where he attended the International Pledging Conference for Syria. The Conference which took place in Kuwait on 30th January was chaired by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

Ahead of the Conference the Minister visited Dubai where he participated in a number of trade promotion events to coincide with 'Arab Health' the largest healthcare exhibition and medical congress in the Middle East. For the first time Enterprise Ireland organised an Irish pavilion at the Congress, where 14 Irish firms were represented. The event was organised to support these medical technology companies to expand their businesses in the rapidly growing Middle East healthcare market.

Building on the existing links between Ireland and the Emirates, Minister Costello was also guest of honour at a networking event jointly hosted by the Irish Embassy, Enterprise Ireland and the Alumni of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Minister Costello met with the UAE Minister of Economy, H.E. Sultan Al Mansouri to discuss bilateral trade between the two countries. In 2011, two-way trade between Ireland and the UAE was worth more than €900m.

Speaking ahead of the events Minister Costello said:
“More and more Irish companies are looking at expanding their business in the Middle East and Dubai is the main hub for entry into these markets.
Ireland is a world leader in medical technology and I am delighted to join with Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Embassy in supporting these Irish companies to promote their products and services at Arab Health.

Medical technology, and the wider lifesciences sectors, have been resilient during the economic downturn and are of enormous importance to Ireland’s recovery and growth”.