Gujarat's 'Japan-connection' is on the rise with state bureaucrats now getting trained by Japanese agencies. Also the state's pioneer design institute, National Institute of Design (NID) is now collaborating with The Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) on an ergonomics related design project. Ergonomics is a scientific discipline that seeks to understand and improve human interactions with products, equipment.
AOTS, primarily a training organisation that promotes technical cooperation through training activities in Japan and abroad, focusing mainly on managers and engineers from developing countries, will train officials from the state's investment organisations like Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) soon. "We are receiving a delegation from Gujarat in February-March with participants from the state's investment organisations for a programme on urban infrastructure and eco-townships.", said Yasumi Suzuki, general manager, India, AOTS.
On its part, NID will be sending a team of 10 faculty members from its Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bangalore campuses for a 10-day training with AOTS. "NID already designs ergonomics but there is a need to train and adopt the global standards. Hence, the faculty members will be trained in human body dimensions scanning technology for ergonomics design which will later be adopted at NID's campuses," said Pradyumna Vyas, director of NID.
A state government official confirmed the same saying, "Yes, we are now focussing on improving our efficiencies in executing urban infrastructure projects. In this year's Vibrant Gujarat we have seen investment commitments worth Rs 2,26,274 crore in the urban infrastructure sector, and we plan to execute these projects on a fast pace. Also, Japanese agencies are already working with us to develop eco-townships in various parts of the state."
According to Suzuki, "We have a very close relationship with NID too. And the Japanese ministry of trade and economy is very keen that we work with NID on an ergonomics project. Ergonomics plays a very important part in designing, including those of cars, plant processes, furniture etc. We have already worked with Japanese car majors like Honda, Suzuki and Toyota, and now bring that experience to collaborate with NID."
The training will begin in Japan from February 1 onwards, Vyas added. AOTS has been training Indian professionals for the last 50 years, and has trained personnel from Reliance's Hazira team and Amul in Gujarat.