Special Marketing Assistance Scheme

Special Marketing Assistance Scheme (SMAS)


  • Marketing, a strategic tool for business development, is critical for the growth and survival of micro, small & medium enterprises. Marketing is the most important factor for the success of any enterprise. Large enterprises have enough resources at their command to hire manpower to take care of marketing of their products and services. MSME sector does not have these resources at their command and thus needs institutional support for providing these inputs in the area of marketing.

  • Hence, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, inter-alia, through National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), a Public Sector Enterprise of the Ministry, has been providing marketing support to the SC/ST enterprises for enhancement of competitiveness and marketability of their products by way of the following type of events:

  • • Organizing Visit to International Exhibitions/Trade Fairs/Seminars Abroad

    • Participation in International Exhibitions/Trade Fairs Abroad

    • Organizing Visit to Domestic Exhibitions/Trade Fairs

    • Participation in Domestic Exhibitions/Trade Fairs

    • Vendor Development Programmes

    • Organizing Workshops/Seminars/Awareness Campaigns

    The main features of Special Marketing Assistance scheme are:

    • SC/ST units must be registered in the MSME Data Bank at the time of availing the benefit under the scheme.

    • Maximum size of the booth/stall in the exhibition/trade fair should be 3mx3m.

    • SC/ST entrepreneurs shall be allowed reimbursement under SMAS for maximum of 2 (two) international events and 4 (four) domestic events in a financial year, irrespective of the number of units they own. Also, a person cannot represent more than one MSE in a financial year.

    • Minimum participation of 5 SC/ST Enterprises for visit to International Exhibitions/Trade Fairs/Seminars abroad is essential. There is no minimum number of units prescribed for participation in international exhibitions/trade fairs abroad.

    • In case of participation of 5 or more SC/ST enterprises in international events abroad, 1 representative from NSIC may accompany. However, in case of participation of more than 10 SC/ST enterprises, one more representative from NSIC/Ministry of MSME may be considered. The duty allowance for such officials shall be as per their entitlement.

    • The SC/ST units may apply to NSSH through field offices of NSIC under SMAS at least a month in advance for domestic events and two months for international events.

    • With regard to Vendor Development Programme, targets should be fixed for each year and MSME this may also be involved in achieving the targets.

    • The proposals under SMAS shall be processed at NSSH and placed before the Screening Committee at NSIC for MAS and based upon its recommendation, the approval may be provided by CMD-NSIC. In exceptional cases of deviations, the proposals shall be sent for approval of Administrative Ministry.

    • All other terms & conditions, application forms, documents required and eligibility criteria laid down in the guidelines of International Cooperation scheme of Ministry of MSME, as amended from time to time, shall be applicable to SMAS.

    • The Scheme of SMAS shall be monitored and funded by the Ministry of MSME under National SC/ST Hub scheme.


  • • The proposed activities with component-wise admissibility is given as under:


Activity Component Scale of Assistance
1. Organizing Visit to International Exhibitions/Trade Fairs/Seminars Abroad Airfare

Daily Allowance

Maximum Budgetary support
100% of the economy class Airfare by the shortest route for one representative belonging to SC/ST from each participating SC/ST enterprise

Double of the rate of the country-specified daily allowance as per MEA guidelines. This would include expenses for accommodation, transport etc.

Rs. 1.50 Lac for a participating SC/ST enterprise per event
2. Participation in International Exhibitions/Trade Fairs Abroad Built-up stall charges

Airfare

Daily Allowance

Freight

Maximum Budgetary support
100% subsidy on minimum stall size.

100% of the economy class Airfare by the shortest route for one representative belonging to SC/ST from each participating SC/ST enterprise

Double of the rate of the country-specified daily allowance as per MEA guidelines. This would include expenses for accommodation, transport etc.

Rs. 30000 maximum

Micro SC/ST Enterprises

Rs.3.00 Lacs

Small SC/ST Enterprises

Rs.2.50 Lacs

Medium SC/ST Enterprises
Rs.1.50 lacs
3. Organizing Visit to Domestic Exhibitions/Trade Fairs Fare 100% to and fro actual fare of bus /train/air travel (limited to AC-III tier class) from the nearest railway station/ airport, to the place of exhibition by shortest route for one SC/ST person per SC/ST enterprise subject to maximum of Rs. 10,000/-.
4. Participation in Domestic Exhibitions/Trade Fairs Built up Stall charges

Fare

Freight

Maximum Budgetary support
100% subsidy on minimum stall size of the event.

100% to and fro actual fare of bus /train/air travel (limited to AC-III tier class) from the nearest railway station/ airport, to the place of exhibition by shortest route for one SC/ST person per SC/ST enterprise subject to maximum of Rs. 10,000/-.

100% to and fro transport charges for carrying exhibits/products from the location of manufacturing unit up to the place of exhibition subject to maximum amount of Rs. 15,000/- per exhibition.

Rs. 1.50 Lacs for a participating SC/ST enterprise per event
5. Vendor Development Programmes Organizing VDPs / BSM by Industry Associations The budget would depend upon the various components of the expenditure i.e. space rental, interior decoration, advertisement, stationery & printing material, transportation, lunch/refreshments etc. However, the net budgetary support for the VDP would be subject to the following limits:-

National level :Rs.10 Lacs
State / regional level :


1. Rs. 5 Lacs if the meet is held in ‘A’ class cities.

2. Rs. 3 Lacs if the meet is held in ‘B’ class cities.

3. Rs. 2 Lacs if the meet is held in ‘C’ class cities.

4. Rs. 1 Lac if the meet is held in rural areas.

Note:-Transportation cost will be paid to SC/ST units to participate in Vendor Development Programmes (VDPs)
6. Workshops/ Seminars/ Awareness Campaigns To be organized by Industry Association/ Field Offices of NSIC, MSME DI Expenditure for organizing Workshop/Seminars would be subject to a maximum limit of : -
National level : Rs.5 Lacs State / regional level :
5. Rs. 2,00,000 in case of ‘A’ class cities.

6. Rs. 1,00,000 in case of ‘B’ class cities.

7. Rs. 50,000 in case of ‘C’ class cities.
8. Rs. 30,000 in case of rural areas.