L. B. Singhal
Director General

Sub: Participation in Trade Fairs/Exhibitions/Buyer-Seller Meets abroad.

A meeting under the Chairmanship of Mrs. Asha Swarup, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of Commerce was held to consider the MDA proposals of Export Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZ Units (EPCES). During the meeting, the MDA Committee of Ministry of Commerce considered the activities to be undertaken by the Council during 2004-05. The MDA Committee informed that all the Councils may submit proposals for participation in trade fairs/exhibitions/buyer-seller meets abroad for the next 3 years to the Ministry of Commerce.

The following activities of the Council to be organized in the next 4/5 months:

i. Buyer-Seller-Meets in Kazakhastan, Ukraine & Uzbekistan in January, 2005.

ii. Orient Expo, Paris, France from 17th to 19th February, 2005.

iii. Buyer-Seller-Meets in Chile, Brazil and Mexico from 14th to 22nd March, 2005.

As you may be aware that Market Development Assistance (MDA) is permissible for participation in trade fairs/exhibitions/buyer-seller meets abroad to EOUs/SEZ Units whose turnover is upto Rs.5 crore in the preceding year. For participation in trade fairs/exhibitions/buyer-seller meets in Latin American Countries (LAC), MDA upto a maximum amount of Rs.1.40 lakhs (Rs.90,000 towards air-fare and Rs.50,000 towards stall charges) is permissible and for other countries MDA upto a maximum amount of Rs.1.10 lakhs (Rs.60,000 towards air-fare and Rs.50,000 towards stall charges) is permissible.

Keeping in view of the above, we request you to kindly furnish the following:

1. EOUs and SEZ Units may send their consent to participate in the above mentioned three events of the Council and also avail the benefit of MDA Scheme.

2. Also send valuable suggestions for participation in trade fairs/exhibitions/buyer-seller meets abroad for the period December 2004 to March 2005 and for the years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.