A Market Development Assistance Scheme is currently operated by the Ministry of Commerce with a view to encourage exporters (including MSME exporters) to access and develop overseas markets. The scheme offers funding for participation in international fairs, study tours abroad, trade delegations, publicity, etc. Direct assistance under MDA for small- scale units is given for individual sales-cum-study tours, participation in fairs/exhibitions and publicity. SIDBI operates a scheme of direct assistance for financing activities relating to marketing of MSME products.
The Office of DC(MSME) has an existing scheme for participation in international fairs, whereby MSME entrepreneurs are encouraged to display their products at international exhibitions abroad. MSME-DO provides exhibition space and shipment of exhibits ex-Mumbai free of cost for this purpose.
PROPOSED SCHEME
As part of the comprehensive policy package for promotion and development of MSMEs announced on 30th August 2000, it was decided that the Small Industries Development Organisation should have a Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme similar to the one obtaining in the Ministry of Commerce. It should be a Plan Scheme.
In pursuance of the above announcement and in recognition of the fact that (i) MSME exporters need to be encouraged in their efforts at tapping and developing overseas markets; and (ii) MSME-DO's participation in international fairs, if coupled with the presence of actual exporters, would lead to substantial increase in export business, it has been decided to operate a new scheme called MSME Exporters Market Development Assistance (MSME-MDA) Scheme .
The scheme to be operated in addition to the existing MSME-DO scheme for participation in international fairs will cover all activities for which direct assistance is given under the existing MDA scheme of the Ministry of Commerce. In addition, the scheme would also provide for financial assistance for commissioning market study reports and for initiating/contesting anti-dumping cases. The scheme came into operation w.e.f. 30-08-2001.
|
