JOIN US During a visit to Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, better known as Jaipur Foot on Wednesday, US Commerce Secretary John Bryson, who is on a two day visit here, laid stress on broadening the US - India bilateral relationship.
Secretary Bryson is leading 16 US companies on a business development mission in India. His visit shows America’s commitment to foster trade relations by advocating for US export opportunities in India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure sector and to promote investment opportunities.
Jaipur Foot is the world’s largest prosthetic limb fitting organisation which manufactures polymer-based prosthetic device for below-the-knee amputations.
“After seeing the innovation at Jaipur Foot, which improves the quality of life for people worldwide, it is clear to me why people with big ideas want to come here,” said Bryson.
“Different people in each of India’s regions have unique perspectives and plans, and I look forward to finding new ways to help US businesses partners with leaders in places like Jaipur in order to strengthen India’s infrastructure, drive innovation, and promote more prosperity and more jobs for both of our countries,” he added.
During the tour of Jaipur Foot, Bryson highlighted the partnership between the two countries in successfully applying innovative technologies for prosthesis manufacturing.
US research institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University are assisting in the commercialisation of some of the technologies. In the case of MIT, Jaipur Foot is collaborating with the university to develop an all-terrain wheelchair that would improve the lives of many disabled people in the developing world.
Jaipur Foot is an example of low-cost engineering and a successful Indian business model. There are many Indian firms that have learned to conduct R & D in highly resource-constrained environments and which have found ways to use locally appropriate technology for humanitarian purposes, he said.
This has resulted in the organisation's ability to innovatively manufacture prostheses with locally available technologies for $20-$45 when a device with a very similar function can cost thousands of dollars in the West.