Israeli medical equipment sold to Arab countries

Mr. Yechiel Assia director general of The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute said last week that Israeli exports of medical equipment rose last year by 7.2% to $1.09 billion. Assia predicted that medical equipment exports will rise by another 5-7% this year.
 
According to analysis made by the institute's economists, exports of surgical equipment and medical devices rose by 6% in 2004 to $989 million, exports of medical and orthopedic equipment rose by 63% to $75 million.
 
The analysis, however,noted that exports of disposable medical equipment fell by 31% to $20 million.Medical equipment exports to Europe rose by 10% to $318 million, and exports to North America rose by 17% to $471 million.
 
The market analysis shows that some 400 companies currently export medical equipment to the US, 212 to Germany, 150 to France, 100 to Australia, 135 to Italy, 70 to Hong Kong, and 185 to the UK. 24 Israeli companies export medical equipment to Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf emirates, and the US Army in Iraq.
 
Assia noted that in 2005 the Export Institute plans to organize three trade delegations of medical equipment companies to the UK, France, and Turkey, and to participate in national pavilions in two exhibitions in Germany.