HCB News: Now that Informa runs FIME, what will remain the same, and what changes will both exhibitors and attendees see this year?
SP: FIME will be run by Informa’s Life Sciences Exhibitions Division, which operates 26 exhibitions and more than 100 conferences yearly, covering the African, Middle Eastern, European and Asian markets. The largest of these is the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress in Dubai, UAE, the second largest health care trade show in the world. Informa’s goal for FIME is to generate value for our customers and partners by driving further product innovation and deeper engagement in these specific markets, and sending a positive message on the strength of commercial opportunities within the medical device industry.

While FIME’s primary focus will remain across four specific industry sectors — medical technology, medical products and supplies, medical services and medical equipment — the new format of the show will offer attendees enhanced opportunities to discover the latest medical technology and cutting-edge devices from across the globe. With 38 participating countries, the international scope of the event enables visitors to source products and services from across all continents.

HCB News: What innovations from other Informa shows will be introduced at FIME 2016?
SP: Informa will introduce the Dealers & Distributors Wall to FIME — an area dedicated to facilitating business relationships between visitors and exhibitors. This concept proved very popular with visitors to our flagship show, Arab Health. Throughout our global trade show offerings, we know that our visitors have come to expect a truly international experience where they can source cutting-edge medical equipment and technology on a global level. By hosting 15 dedicated country pavilions, exhibitors at FIME 2016 will be represented on a truly international scale.

HCB News: We understand you’re enhancing the educational offerings — what subjects and topics will be presented?
SP: FIME will now offer multi-speciality workshops and seminars in line with Informa’s motto of “Exhibition with Education,"providing an unrivalled knowledge-sharing and business networking platform for health care trade professionals. The free-to-attend industry workshops and seminars will feature renowned international speakers specializing in a variety of topics built to address current challenges and issues within the medical and health care industry worldwide.

The seminar agenda will feature leading experts from around the world who will speak about topical issues that are of concern to anyone entering the North, Central and South American medical device market. For example, Richard Vincins, VP of QA/ RA, Emergo, will discuss global regulations for marketing medical devices, while Divya Khullar, Esq., managing partner, www.USAPatents.com, will examine intellectual property in medical devices. Other topics include FDA compliance procedures import and export processes, and the challenges of dealers and distributors entering the U.S. medical device market.

The workshop program is designed to offer practical advice on how to position your business at the forefront of the health care industry by creating sustainable supply chains, empowering your workforce and leveraging digital marketing to enable your business to thrive. For example, Justin Irizarry, chief financial officer, Orthonowcare, Miami, will engage attendees with a workshop on disruptive health care models in the U.S., while Rollis Fontenot III, president, Ascend HR Corp., Houston, will look at how to build an effective recruitment process in order to attract the best talent available.

HCB News: Do you plan to keep the show in Miami Beach and hold it in August next year?
SP: Miami, Florida, is a strategically important location for a show such as FIME. At the crossroads between North, Central and South America, and with fantastic travel links from global cities across the world, Miami continues to be the perfect location to facilitate a global medical trade fair in the biggest medical marketplace.