Contact:    
Stuart Doyle
(407) 956-5689
sdoyle@eflorida.com

Enterprise Florida helps businesses
enter Latin American healthcare market

Florida’s chief economic development organization is coordinating a delegation to Hospitalar, a premier international medical tradeshow

ORLANDO, FL (February 11, 2009) – Businesses statewide can take advantage of Brazil’s growing healthcare market by participating in Hospitalar 2009, the leading medical trade show in Latin America. The event will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from June 2 -5.

Enterprise Florida will host a pavilion that will provide display space for Florida companies that want to market their products and services.  Those interested should contact Michael Schiffhauer at (407) 956-5634 or mschiffhauer@eflorida.com. The registration deadline is March 27.

Businesses will have several options for space size, with pricing and amenities based on each.  Space is limited and will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis. 

Last year, Hospitalar attracted more than 78,000 visitors from 70 countries, including 1,500 foreign buyers. Five companies – Atlas Specialty Lighting, Digicare Biomedical Technology, Mayo Clinic, TRADIS and World of Medicine – were represented in the Florida section of the U.S. Pavilion.

"The Brazilian healthcare market has the highest potential for growth in South America, estimated at more than $58 billion," said Michael Schiffhauer, Enterprise Florida’s director of European trade development, who is coordinating the state’s participation in Hospitalar.

U.S. exports to Brazil grew to $24 billion in 2007, from $19 billion the previous year. "The continued expansion of the Brazilian private health care sector is expected to create new opportunities for U.S. exporters, particularly for more advanced medical equipment, disposables, diagnostic devices, implants and components," added Schiffhauer.

*                      *                      *

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  Headquartered in Orlando, EFI’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better-paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create businesses in innovative, high-growth industries.  In pursuit of its mission, EFI works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

#####