Middle East boost for Down health company

Middle East boost for Down health company

10 July 2013

DOWNPATRICK based Vivomed, an online supplier of sports medicine, physiotherapy and first aid products, has secured its first business contract in the Middle East worth £80,000.

With the assistance from Invest Northern Ireland the company has begun supplying its range of products to a major distributor in Abu Dhabi following its participation on the Invest NI stand at the Arab Health Exhibition in Dubai place earlier in the year.

Founded in 1995, the company currently employs 15 people at two sites in Downpatrick including a warehouse operation.

As well as marketing assistance, the company has received support from Invest NI to develop its e-commerce site.

Vivomed’s Business Development Manager, Chris Webb, said: “Taking part with Invest NI at Arab Health was tremendously important as it provided the mechanism for us to make many excellent contacts and ensure that our products complied with specific market requirements in Abu Dhabi.

“We were able to engage with those who expressed interest in our products and expertise and follow the leads up when we returned home. We also identified a suitable distribution partner to work with. We have also been able to access invaluable trade advice from the experienced team at Invest NI.”

Mr. Webb said the company also intended to use Abu Dhabi as a springboard to other neighbouring markets such as Dubai and Qatar.

Dr. Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, said: “Vivomed is the most recent Northern Ireland company to benefit from participation in Arab Health, an exhibition that’s now recognised as being an ideal platform for business growth in the Middle East and indeed further afield. It is now recognised as one of the major international shows of this type.

“As Vivomed’s success shows, the exhibition provides the opportunity to generate quality leads, especially from affluent markets in the Gulf, that companies can convert into worthwhile business. I commend Vivomed for their tenacity to follow up the leads on their return, it is a vital step that some companies fail to focus on.

“Invest NI has great experience of commercial requirements, procedures and practices in global markets like Dubai, and local companies, both large and small, can access this to ensure profitable business.”