International Cooperation Scheme- Market Development Assistance

Description
The scheme “International Cooperation Scheme” was launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India with the aim to capacity build MSMEs for entering the export market by facilitating their participation in international exhibitions/fairs/conferences/seminars/buyer-seller meets abroad as well as providing them with actionable market-intelligence and reimbursement of various costs involved in the export of goods and services. The Scheme provides opportunities for MSMEs to continuously update themselves to meet the challenges emerging out of changes in technology, changes in demand, emergence of new markets, etc. Thus, in totality, all components of the scheme aimed at various aspects required to advance MSMEs& 39; position as emerging export players. The Scheme would cover the following sub-components: • Sub-Component-I: Market Development Assistance of MSMEs MDA . • Sub-Component-II: Capacity Building of First Time MSE Exporters CBFTE . • Sub-Component-III: Framework for International Market Intelligence Dissemination IMID . As on date, Sub-Component–I and Sub-Component-II are in operation. Sub-Component-III will be in operation soon. Sub-Component I: Market Development Assistance of MSMEs MDA : Under this component, the following activities are covered: Physical Medium: 1. Participation as exhibitors of MSME delegations of industry associations and government organizations, involved in the promotion of MSMEs, in international exhibitions, trade fairs and buyer-seller meets in foreign countries for exploring potential markets for exports, seeking joint ventures, awareness about latest technologies, etc. 1. Organizing international conferences/summits/workshops/seminars in India on themes relevant to MSMEs by the Industry Associations and Government organizations. 1. Organizing Mega international exhibitions/fairs/buyer-seller meets, conferences/summits/ workshops/ seminars abroad by the Ministry of MSME, its organizations solely or in partnership with industry associations for the promotion of the MSME sector. 1. Organizing Mega international conferences/ summits/ workshops/ seminars, bilateral/multilateral Government to Government Events in India by the Ministry of MSME, its organizations solely or in partnership with industry associations for promotion of the MSME sector. 1. Participation of Ministry-led Industrial delegations to International Exhibitions/Fairs/Conferences in foreign countries. Virtual Medium: 1. Participation as exhibitors of MSME delegations of industry associations and government organizations, involved in the promotion of MSMEs, in international exhibitions, trade fairs and buyer-seller meets by foreign organizers for exploring potential markets for exports, seeking joint ventures, awareness about latest technologies, etc. 1. Organizing international conferences/ summits/ workshops/ seminars on themes relevant to MSMEs by the Industry Associations and Government organizations. 1. Organizing Mega international exhibitions/fairs/buyer-seller meets, conferences/summits/seminars/ workshops, bilateral/multilateral Government to Government Events by Ministry of MSME, its organizations solely or in partnership with industry associations for promotion of MSME sectors.

Benefits
• Under this scheme component, financial assistance is provided on a reimbursement basis for airfare, Space Rent (Stall Charges), Duty allowance, Freight charges, advertisement & publicity charges, entry/registration fees, holding/organizing International conferences/ summits/ workshops/ seminars, etc.

Eligibility Criteria
1. > **Eligible Organisations:**
2. **Events under the scheme can be organized by:**
3. a) Ministry of MSME and organizations under the Ministry;
4. b) State/Central Government Organisations/Institutions; and
5. c) Registered Industry/Enterprise Associations
6. > **Conditions:**
7. The applicant organization should be suitably registered under the relevant Act (i.e., companies under the Companies Act, Societies under the Societies Act, etc.) with the primary objective of promotion and development of MSMEs.
8. The applicant organization should have regular audited accounts for the past 3 years.
9. Events, for which financial support under the Scheme is sought, must be from the list of approved exhibitions/ events/ buyer-seller meets finalized by the Ministry of MSME in each financial year.
10. Financial assistance to one applicant organization would normally be restricted to three events in a financial year. The Screening Committee may, however, recommend a relaxation of this condition for reasons to be recorded and allot more than 3 events.
11. The quantum of assistance shall only be supplemental in nature to the contribution of the organizer.
12. The Industry Associations/organizations are allowed to participate in a particular event continuously for 3 years. After participating in the particular event continuously for 3 years, they will be eligible to participate in the same event after a gap of 2 Years.
13. Selection of the participating units shall be based on the eligibility scorecard prescribed under the scheme (Annexure C) and in no case an MSME unit scoring less than 60 percent marks will be eligible for availing the benefits under the scheme. The applicant organization must satisfy itself in this regard before proposing the name of the MSME unit in the delegation and any discrepancy, if noticed later, shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant organization.
14. While selecting entrepreneurs/participants, the applicant organization should ensure that one MSME unit must not participate in more than 2 events in a financial year under the scheme.
15. The applicant organization should also ensure that the selection is done in a fair and transparent manner, taking into consideration factors like the track record, growth potential, export potential, etc.
16. In order to make representation in such events more inclusive and equitable, the following guidelines must be followed:
17. - Adequate representation would be given to SC/ST/Women/NER entrepreneurs in such events.
18. - While selecting entrepreneurs as well as representative(s) of the participating units, priority should be given to persons who have not participated in such events earlier with a Government grant.

Application Process
Step 1: Procedure for Approval of Proposals Furnished by Coir Board and KVIC:
Online

Procedure for Approval of Proposals Furnished by Coir Board and KVIC:

Required Documents
• Budget estimate
• Copy of the Registration Certificate of the applicant organization (one-time requirement)
• Copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association (one-time requirement)
• Copies of Audited Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Account or Income and expenditure Account of the applicant organization for the last 03 years
• The second and final installment would be contingent upon the submission of the outcome report (as prescribed under the IC Scheme portal), Utilisation Certificate, and Chartered Accountant (CA) certified audit account statements including inter alia sources of funding) within 60 days from the date of completion of the event/activity
• A Certificate declaring that financial assistance has not been sought from another Ministry/Department is to be submitted.
• Udyam Registration Certificate of all participating MSME units to be submitted.
• The applicant organization must maintain with them all documents. These records as well as other documents connected with the release of the financial assistance from the Ministry must be maintained till a CAG Audit is conducted.
• Any other document(s) as sought by the Ministry of MSME.
• Claim Form Duly filled and a copy certified by Chartered Accountant to be uploaded.
• List of participants along with score card (Annexure-A).
• Mandate Form duly filled up by Applicant Organization and verified by the concerned Bank (Annexure-B)
• Pre-receipt (Annexure-C).
• Certification from the association declaring that they have not sought financial assistance from another Ministry/Department for the claim submitted under the IC scheme. (Annexure-D)
• Udyam Registration Certificate of all participating MSME units
• Copy of the e-ticket complete in all respects with fare information on the e-ticket for air travel (For Physical Events)
• Original Boarding Pass [In case of multiple Boarding Passes, provisions of the Original Boarding pass of the destination city (host city of the event under consideration) is a must. In case of non-availability of original boarding pass for reasons to be conveyed in writing, a certificate from the airlines stating that the journey has been undertaken will be acceptable] (For Physical Event)
• Original Invoice along with receipt of Payment (original) for claiming stall charges, freight charges, advertisement and publicity charges, entry/registration fees, platform charges, Interpretation charges, etc.
• Any other document(s) as sought by the Ministry of MSME
• All documents should be self-attested/certified with a seal by the applicant organization.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is "Market Development Assistance of MSMEs (MDA)" scheme?
A: The scheme aims to build the Capacity of MSMEs for entering the export market by facilitating their participation in international exhibitions/ fairs/conferences/seminars/ buyer-seller meets abroad as well as providing them with actionable market intelligence and reimbursement of various costs involved in the export of goods and services.

Q: Which department has launched this scheme?
A: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has launched this scheme.

Q: What are the benefits provided under the scheme?
A: Under the Scheme, the financial assistance is provided on reimbursement basis for airfare, space rent, freight charges, advertisement & publicity charges, entry/registration fee, etc.

Q: Who can apply under this scheme?
A: State/Central Government Organisations/Institutions, Registered Industry/Enterprise Associations, Export Promotion Councils associated with promotion and development of MSME sector.

Q: What are the eligibility criteria to apply under the scheme?
A: * The applicant organization should be suitably registered under the relevant Act (i.e., companies under the Companies Act, Societies under the Societies Act, etc.) with the primary objective of promotion and development of MSMEs.
* The applicant organization should have regular audited accounts for the past 3 years.
* Events, for which financial support under the Scheme is sought, must be from the list of approved exhibitions/ events/ buyer-seller meets finalized by the Ministry of MSME in each financial year.
* The organization must be engaged in such activities for at least the last 3 years and have a good track record.

Q: How many times the applicant organization can participate in the events in a financial year under the scheme?
A: The applicant organization cannot participate in more than 2 events in a financial year under the scheme.

Q: How to apply under this scheme?
A: The applicant organization will submit an online application for financial assistance, along with the relevant documents and the budget estimate of the expenditure on the proposed event in the proforma online giving full details of expenditure. (https://ic.msme.gov.in/IC_APP/IC_Welcome.aspx)

Q: How will the grant be released under the scheme?
A: Grants under the Scheme will be released on basis of the following two categories:
I. Category A: Applicant Organisations having EPC Status and Organisations under the Ministry of MSME
a. All organisations having the status of Export Promotion Councils (Annexure-III) under the Foreign Trade Policy and Government Organisations of the Ministry of MSME namely- National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NIMSME) and Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) are eligible for drawing advance
b. 50% of the expected expenditure will be released as advances and the remaining 50% on submission of Utilisation Certificate (UC).
c. Advance grants, if any released, have to be refunded with interest in case of default in meeting the objectives and the conditions with which the funds were released. Repeat defaults in the submission of UCs will make EPCs/Organisations ineligible to receive assistance under this Scheme and will be considered for debarring from participating in the Scheme
II. Category B: Applicant Organisations with non-EPC Status
a. The total amount will be reimbursed after the event is over.
b. All other applicant organizations/associations involved in the promotion and development of MSMEs will submit claim documents for reimbursement of claims in the online proforma as uploaded on the IC Scheme Portal.