U.S. medical device firms set visit to India

A U.S. trade delegation to India in early February will give U.S. companies an entrée into the $500 million medical device market in that country.

Medical device exports from the U.S. to India have grown 20% annually in recent years and are on pace to surpass $90 million this year, according to Matthew Edwards, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Edwards attributed the growth to India's burgeoning middle class, which is increasingly turning to imported medical technology.

The trade mission, scheduled for Feb. 4 to 11, will visit New Delhi, Chennai (Madras), and Mumbai (Bombay). The program will include meetings with regulators, health officials, and purchasing organizations, as well as visits to hospitals and briefings by the U.S. Embassy.

Companies may send one representative for $3200, which includes all organized activities. A second person may attend for a reduced fee of $1000. The fee does not include hotels, meals, or travel costs. For information,

contact Edwards at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 202/482-4431.