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28 Apr 2023

Marketing Assistance Scheme

Marketing Assistance Scheme

The Marketing Assistance Scheme was launched with the main aim of improving the marketing capabilities and competitiveness of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

Objectives of Marketing Assistance Scheme

The main objectives of the Marketing Assistance Scheme are mentioned below:

  • To highlight the competencies of MSMEs.
  • To form a consortium of MSMEs to market their services and products.
  • To propagate/disseminate various government programs.
  • To provide MSMEs the details of the market scenario and its effect on various activities.
  • A platform will be provided to MSMEs so that they can interact with institutional buyers.
  • To improve the skills of MSMEs.

Marketing Assistance Scheme Highlights & Benefits

The main highlights and benefits of the Marketing Assistance Scheme are mentioned below:

  • The overall ceiling of the net budgetary support for participation in an international trade fair or exhibition will be Rs.30 lakh per event. However, the overall ceiling may be increased to Rs.40 lakh in the case of Latin American countries.
  • For the organisation of domestic trade fairs or exhibitions, the budget would depend on the various components that are required. Some of the components that are considered are transportation, printing material, advertisement, theme pavilion, fabricating, construction, and rent. The maximum expenditure may be limited to Rs.45 lakh.
  • Financial assistance ranging between 25% and 95% of the space rent and airfare will be provided to entrepreneurs. However, the amount that is provided will be based on the type and size of the enterprise.

The maximum amount of financial assistance that will be provided for transportation and air-fare charges for General Category is mentioned in the table below:


Type of Enterprise

Other Countries

Latin America

Micro Enterprises

Rs.2 lakh

Rs.2.40 lakh

Small Enterprises

Rs.1.75 lakh

Rs.2.10 lakh

Medium Enterprises

Rs.1 lakh

Rs.1.25 lakh

Marketing Assistance Scheme Eligibility

Organisations such as the industry associations and MSMEs that are related to the MSME sector are eligible to apply for the scheme. Support may also be provided to several organisations, industry associations, and institutions that help in promoting MSMEs and organise fairs or exhibitions within India that benefits the MSME sector. The support that will be given is done by co-sponsoring the event.

Application Process for Marketing Assistance Scheme

The application form along with all the relevant details must be submitted to the Branch Manager at the nearest National Small Industries Corporation office. The guidelines of the scheme can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

Eligibility for Marketing Assistance scheme

Any individual linked to the MSME sector is eligible to enroll. Thereby, the eligible candidates would be MSME units, Industry or organizations linked with the MSME sector.

Nature of assistance 

Financial assistance will be given ranging from 25% deepening on the compensation requested. Following list of assistance based on the cause of expenditure is itemized below:

Case 1: To visit the International Event
  1. Airfare: 100% reimbursement for the economy class ticket
  2. Daily accommodation and travel: Double the expense set by MEA guidelines
  3. Budget assistance: A maximum of Rs 1.50 Lakh per event is allotted for partaking in an international event.
Case 2: Participating in an International Event 
  1. Stall charges: 100% reimbursement on the stall cost
  2. Airfare: 100% airfare for an economy class ticket
  3. Daily accommodation and travel: Double the expense set by MEA guidelines
  4. Freight charges: A maximum of Rs 30000 is allocated
  5. Budget assistance: Rs 3 lakh from Micro SC/ST units, Rs 2.5 lakh for Small, and Rs1.5 for medium units.
Case 3: Visit Domestic Events 

1. Fare: 100% reimbursement with a limit of Rs 10,000.

Case 4: Participating in the Domestic Event
  1. Stall charges: 100% reimbursement on the stall cost
  2. Fare: 100% reimbursement with a limit of Rs 10,000
  3. Freight charges: 100% reimbursement with a limit of Rs 15,000
  4. Budget assistance: Rs 1.5 lakhs will be provided.

    5. Case 5: Conducting Workshops, Training, and Campaigns. Vendor development programs

    The budget is based on the cities the event is conducted. Thus, Vendor development programs range from Rs 1 to 5 lakhs. Similarly, for training the reimbursement ranges from Rs 30,000 to 2,00,000.

    Pointers to avail the benefits of the scheme 
    1. SC/ST will be beneficiaries only after registration in the MSME Data bank.
    2. The size of the stalls is limited to 3m*3m at the fairs or exhibitions.
    3. SC/ST will receive compensation for 2 global meets and 4 local events per year.
    4. Five enterprises or more may attend the events, however, as the number increases an NSIC representative will accompany. Further, when the number exceeds 10 more than one representative of NSIC or Ministry of MSME will escort the units.
    5. A target will be set for each year that must be achieved by the registered sectors as per the Vendor Development Programme.
    6. Terms, conditions, rules, responsibilities, and application process for the Marketing Assistance Scheme is similar to IC scheme.
    7. The nodal agency is the Ministry of MSME and National SC/ST Hub scheme.