The Tango, invented in Buenos Aires, is a taut, teasing, intricate dance for two. And foreign businesses looking for opportunities in Argentina can soon find themselves taking the first steps in their own version of Argentina’s national dance. Because in many sectors, including the Argentine medical industry, you can’t go it alone. You need a counterpart.
There are tough obstacles to imports, starting with product registration. Unless you have an office in the country you must appoint an ARH, Argentina Registration Holder, to submit your application. You need to find someone you can trust to work with – even then, it may take up to a year. The ExpoMedical Exhibition and Conference in Buenos Aires was packed with would be importers looking for a partner.
“We have exhibited in Brazil, but it is very hard to register to sell medical products – there is a lot of paperwork,” Kathy Zhang, Americas Regional Manager for Yonker (Jianshu, China) complained. “But we have found a local partner here to help us register, and this is just the beginning of our co-operation.”
Zimede Medical Instruments attends up to nine shows a year. “Our biggest problem here in Argentina is getting registered – it is like getting FDA approval – it can take up to a year and costs a lot of money” said representative Jane Chien. “We have to supply test results on all our equipment. We need to choose the right partner to work with on that.”
Product Registration must take place through the Medical Technology department of ANMAT, the National Administration for medicines, foods and medical technology, (www.anmat.gov.ar) part of the Ministry of Health, and the process differs depending on the type of medical product.
Leon Chen of Saikang Medical said his company had considerable experience at overseas shows including Brazil, but it was the first time in Argentina. “This is a big country but with a small population, and we need to register to sell our medical furniture here – maybe we will find a local partner.”
Of 140 equipment suppliers exhibiting, one quarter were from outside Argentina. The biggest National presence was 18 suppliers from China. Despite the difficulties they were discovering for exporters to Argentina, these exhibitors were positive.
“The market here is promising” according to Estela Deng, Americas Sales Manager for Biolight (Zhuhai, China), “though not so big as Brazil, because of the population and the economy.”
Brazil is four times the size of Argentina’s 40 million people and US$560 billion GDP. The medical market in Argentina is worth over US$600 million of which 70% is imports (according to US government figures at export.gov).
“We [Chinese companies] have opportunities here because we are very price competitive, and the quality is improving,” explained Estela, “but we have to keep working on the quality.”