Successful Outcome for Korean Medical and Healthcare Exhibition

Despite the global recession, the 2009 Korean Medical & Healthcare Exhibition (KIMES) still presented tangible opportunities for both exhibitors and visitors.

Over the four days of KIMES, held during March 2009 in Seoul (Korea), 54,328 visitors flocked to the exhibition grounds. While attendance figures were below the initial expectation of the organizers, the 1,023 exhibitors participating in the show reported that the results demonstrated that the market is managing to survive and is even forging forward, which in many cases translated into concrete deals and contracts.

For example, Medison (Seoul, Korea), one of the major Korean ultrasound device manufactures, concluded sales totaling US$160 million of their latest products, while 56 companies located at Wonju Techno Valley reached $20 million of domestic sales and consultation fees, and $75 million export consultation fees during the exhibition. Thirteen exhibitors at the Gyeongsangnam-do Province pavilion, formed by the province state government, concluded a $6 million export contract during the KIMES.

A demographic analysis of the visitors based on occupation showed that 78.5% of visitors were active in industry; 14% of visitors were involved in marketing, sales, trade, and distribution of medical and healthcare related items, and a further 9.5% were employed in manufacturing and production positions. A detailed professional breakdown identified 23.2% of the visitors in medical fields including medical doctors, hospital managers, and other hospital professionals. Thirty-eight percent of the visitors reported that their primary purpose in visiting KIMES was to gather information on innovative technologies, while 17.5% of the visitors were visiting KIMES for market research purposes. Some 1,530 international buyers also participated in the show, hailing from over 71 countries, including several from African and South American countries. At the same time, the majority of visitors were from neighboring East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Taiwan.

The 2009 KIMES fairground sprawled over 32,382 square meters, about 10% smaller than the 2008 exhibition. This was due to the fact that the recent global economic downturn affected both KIMES and the Korean medical and healthcare industry in general, causing several changes in the exhibition layout, including cancellation of one-third of an exhibition hall. Despite this, visitors awarded high feedback marks for the range of products and services presented by exhibiting companies. The seminars presented by KIMES organizers, partnering media, and related organizations during the four days of the show also proved another reason for the satisfactory turnout, with a majority of the attendees agreeing that the seminars were a great place to widen their knowledge.

The planned 2010 KIMES, marking the 30th show since inception in 1980, will be held on March 18-21, 2010.

Related Links:
Korean Medical & Healthcare Exhibition Show
Medison