KIMES 2010 Propels Korean Healthcare Industry Ahead

Exhibitors at the Korea International Medical & Hospital Equipment Show (KIMES, Seoul, Korea), held during February 2010 at the Seoul Convention & Exhibition Center (COEX, Korea), reported that along with global economic recovery, Korean businesses were also experiencing a surge in market results.

The 26th edition of KIMES achieved an estimated 5% increase in attendance including a record 18% increase in foreign participation. Visitors from 71 countries attended the show, including 250 overseas buyers invited to participate by Korean manufacturers. Among the devices on display at KIMES, were diagnosis, radiology, surgical, physiotherapy, and ophthalmic apparatus; emergency care systems, medical information systems, oriental medicine, pharmaceutical equipment, medical disposables, and more. The international presence of major global healthcare companies such as General Electric (GE), Siemens, Philips, Shimadzu, and Hitachi further highlighted the emerging role of KIMES as a global event.

The importance of the medical industry as the one of the leading areas that are driving the growth of Korean economy was highlighted by the recognition of KIMES by the Korean Ministry of Knowledge as one of the country's "Top 10” leading exhibitions, as exemplified by the presence of Medison Healthcare, Listem, Choongwae, Dong Kang, UBCare, BIT Computer, and over 480 other Korean companies. This recognition of the healthcare industry was further reinforced by the presentation of a government-provided blueprint of financial and political backing for the healthcare sector.

Regional government support for the medical and healthcare industry and its recognition as specialized industry was demonstrated by three regional pavilions formed by participating companies from those regions; 54 companies from the Wonju Medical industry Techno Valley exhibited in Halls A and C; 15 exhibitors from the Gyeongsangnam-do Province Pavilion exhibited in Hall B; and several companies from Daegu Metropolitan City--recently appointed as a hub of medical development area--also participated for the first time in KIMES.

But KIMES 2010 did more than assist the development of the medical equipment industries in Korea and neighboring nations; over 40 sessions of in-depth seminars were held parallel to the show at the COEX conference center, covered a range of topics that included government policies on medical devices market, cutting-edge technologies affecting medical device development, and sophisticated financial technology available for medical professionals.

Related Links:
Korea International Medical & Hospital Equipment Show
Seoul Convention & Exhibition Center