Using international cooperation to upgrade and promote export

Technology infusion and upgradation of Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), their modernisation and promotion of their exports are the principal objectives of assistance under the International Cooperation Scheme.

 

There are four main activities under the scheme. These are: 

Eligibility conditions

Now there are conditions for seeking financial assistance under the scheme. 

The application organisations should be suitably registered under the Companies Act, societies under Societies Act, and the like, with primary objective of promotion and development of MSME. The applicant organisation must be engaged in such activities for at least last three years and have a good track record. The applicant organisation should have regularly audited accounts for the past three years and the events, for which financial support under the Scheme is sought, must have significant international participation.

 

The eligible organisation can apply for the assistance at least two months before the date of the event. The applicant organisation will submit an application for assistance in the proforma as prescribed by the Ministry, along with the certification of registration, ITR/balance sheets for the last three years and annual report/activities for the last three years along with the budget estimate of the expenditure on the proposed event.

 

Scale of assistance

Full airfare in economy class subject to a maximum of Rs 1.50-lakh or actual fair paid, whichever is less. This is for one representative from each participating enterprise. Plus there’s duty allowance of USD 150  that the office bearer is eligible to receive.

 

Assistance available for hosting international conferences/seminars in India wherein the foreign participants/foreign speakers are 50% or more of the total participants/speakers. 

 

Air travel of foreign resource may be considered, in which case, 100% of airfare subject to a maximum of Rs 1.50-lakh will be payable. The number of foreign resource persons to be supported per event would be three or 50% of the total resource persons of the event, whichever is lower.

 

The financial assistance is dediced on the basis of budget estimates and the eligible items of the expenditure, subject to Rs 25-lakh per event for international events held in foreign countries and Rs 12-lakh per event for international events held in India.

 

Space rent

For participation in international exhibitions, trade fairs, buyer-seller meet in foreign countries, 100% space rent is provided under the scheme, subject to a maximum of Rs 1-lakh or actual rent paid, whichever is lower (for one representative from each participating enterprise). Office bearer is not eligible for space rent.

 

For participation in international exhibitions, trade fairs held in India, 100% space rent is provided under the scheme, subject to a maximum of Rs 1-lakh or actual rent paid, whichever is lower (for one representative from each participating enterprise). The maximum assistance would be limited to Rs 5-lakh per event per applicant organisation.

 

Submission of report

The applicants shall submit a feedback report, submitted within 15 days of the conclusion of the event, in the prescribed proforma on conclusion of the event. The report (in hard copy as well as in soft/electronic form) will give a detailed account of the activities undertaken during the event, including photographs, literature, brochures and other material collected. 

 

Grants under the Scheme will be released on re-imbursement basis, after the event is over, on submission of the re-imbursement claim in the proforma prescribed by the Ministry.

 

It is worth mentioning that under this scheme, Offset Printers Association, Ludhiana has organised 11 visits to international exhibitions and distributed approximately Rs 1.40-crore to 291 entrepreneurs of the Indian printing and packaging industry.

 

Complete details of the international cooperation scheme is availabe on the MSME website.