Since 1999, Medilink has been delivering industry-leading international events, and now is a crucial time for face-to-face business to restart, says International Director Tom Elliott
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, trade has dramatically changed. With face-to-face meetings, offices, and exhibitions a distant memory for many, the entire world has been forced to adapt to the trials of this new reality.
Despite the circumstances, many have hailed the benefits which remote working and virtual meetings have brought to the table. Long gone is the commute, the jetting from one office to another, and the struggles of utilising half-baked technology. Covid, for better or worse, has revolutionised the way in which businesses operate – and it’s important to recognise these benefits.
However, there are many aspects of international trade, which despite our best efforts, cannot be improved by the benefits of virtual working. Conversations in healthcare have stalled, and at no worse time than during a pandemic itself. Organisations need to be enacting trade missions, developing new partnerships, and engaging with thought leadership – and the absence of the traditional exhibition has made this incredibly difficult.
This is why we need to get things back on track. International trade works best face-to-face, with organisations taking a bold step out into new fields, with new partners on new ventures, who may never encounter each other outside of an event setting. That is the benefit of trade missions – you never know who you might end up meeting or even doing business with.
Together with the international team at Medilink, we can deliver specialist advice, support and consultancy to your business regarding exhibiting internationally. With more than 50 years international trade experience within the life sciences industry, we can ensure that the transition back into in-person exhibition is as seamless as possible.
Still, the world is not quite ready for the old status quo just yet. Many nations and businesses are still struggling through the pandemic, and those who may have begun to see the light on the other side are still reeling from the ordeal, which sadly means that we will not see a return to in-person trade events at this current time.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. With the current vaccination campaigns in action across the world, the hope is that we will be able to return to these types of events this year. In the meantime, the world hasn’t stopped turning. Virtual events have proven to be hugely successful throughout the pandemic, and while they may not deliver the same experience as the ones pre-Covid, they still deliver the key thought leadership, networking, partnership-building, and conversation – just from behind a monitor rather than at a convention centre.
In partnership with Medilink, Healthcare World Festival will provide the key conversations. Questions considered during the festival will focus on where healthcare can go next, and how international healthcare systems, providers, suppliers and governments can work together to create a more connected world of healthcare – which is a conversation needed now more than ever.
While the Healthcare World Festival will be virtual, Medilink has many more events planned for this year – both virtual and in person. As we move out of the Covid-19 pandemic, we can look forward to many more promising events on our schedule, such as:
1st – 3rd September 2021: FIME (Miami, USA) – The largest healthcare exhibition for companies interested in expanding throughout the Americas. FIME is trade-focussed with thousands of attendees that visit annually from across South, Central and North America.
8th – 10th September 2021: Medical Fair Thailand (Bangkok, Thailand) – This event continues to go from strength to strength as Thailand’s No. 1 medical event, providing companies with the best opportunities to navigate the dynamic marketplace of Thailand and also Southeast Asia.
6th – 9th October 2021: Rehacare (Düsseldorf, Germany) – Rehacare is the leading global trade fair for the care and rehabilitation sector. The event covers six exhibition halls and attracts more than 700 global exhibiting companies and tens of thousands of visitors from a total of 81 countries.
26th – 28th October 2021: Africa Health (Johannesburg, South Africa) – Africa Health is the largest market access platform in Africa, drawing in delegates and visitors from across the continent. The event regularly attracts around 11,000 delegates and 600 exhibitors across five exhibition halls.
15th – 18th November 2021: Medica (Düsseldorf, Germany) – Medica is the world’s largest healthcare and Life Sciences exhibition. For more than 40 years this event has held a significant place in the calendar for exhibitors, visitors and clinicians. In excess of 5,000 exhibitors showcase their products and services to around 120,000 key global decision makers.
24th – 27th January 2022: Arab Health (Dubai, UAE) – Arab Health remains the largest healthcare exhibition in the MENA region but has now transitioned into a truly global event. This prominent and well-attended exhibition draws international recognition and thousands of key decision makers from around the world each year. Join other UK companies on the British pavilion and take advantage of our full pre-event and onsite support, and access to any available regional and national funding for eligible companies.
31st August – 2nd September 2022: Medical Fair Asia (Singapore) – Medical Fair Asia continues to be Southeast Asia’s most definitive event for the medical and healthcare industry, gathering the region’s hospital, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, medical and rehabilitation sectors in one convenient location and providing the perfect platform to discover the latest industry innovations, to network and do business. This event is the sister exhibition to Medical Fair Thailand (both events run bi-annually).
In addition to the partnership between Healthcare World Festival and Medilink, Healthcare World magazine will produce editions and attend each one of these events alongside Medilink.
If you are interested in any of the events on our schedule, please contact the team at Medilink UK for more information on their specialist services or the exhibitions.
international@medilink.co.uk
+44 (0) 114 232 9292