Title
These rules will be named as “Rules for Providing Financial Assistance to Natural Rubber (NR) Exporters for the Participation in International Trade Fairs/Exhibitions/Buyer-seller meets/Rubber Board led Trade Delegation etc”.   These rules are based on the guidelines issued by the Government of India under the MDA Scheme.  

Objective
The broad objective of providing financial assistance to natural rubber exporters  is to help them participate in international trade fairs and exhibitions and thereby help  them to utilize the opportunities in the international market in Natural Rubber (NR) so that they contribute to increasing the volume of NR export from the country.  Since Rubber Board participates in international exhibitions, the Board can accommodate NR Exporters also in the Board’s stalls.  NR Exporters participating in exhibitions along with the Board are eligible to avail grant specified in the Scheme ‘Market Development Assistance’ (MDA) issued by the Government of India.   But the grant is met from the export promotion component of the scheme run by the Board.  NR exporters participating in the fairs along with Rubber Board can be extended financial assistance.  Small and medium scale exporters find it difficult to participate in the international trade fairs bearing the full expenses in connection with air charges and stall rent.  Board will provide financial assistance to the medium and small scale exporters to curtain part of the expenditure. 

Eligibility
All NR exporters in India having registration for using Indian Natural Rubber Logo and a valid Registration – cum – Membership Certificate (RCMC) issued by the Board and who participate in exhibitions/trade fairs/Buyer-seller Meets etc. approved by the Board during 11th plan period are eligible for financial assistance under this Scheme.    

Evaluation Criteria
In order to assess the eligibility of nomination for participation in international trade fairs with Board’s assistance, the following criteria is fixed.

Scheme Period
The scheme will be implemented during the 11th Plan period and is applicable to  participation in international trade fairs approved by the Board.

Definition
In these rules, unless the context otherwise means,

1. ‘Board’ means ‘Rubber Board’ constituted under the Rubber Act 1947
2. The ‘Chairman’ means the ‘Chairman of the Rubber Board’.
3. NR Exporter means those having a valid Registration – cum – Membership Certificate (RCMC) issued by the Board.
4. RCMC means Registration – cum – Membership Certificate issued by Rubber Board.
5. NR Exporter for using ‘Indian Natural Rubber Logo’ means those exporters having registration with Rubber Board for using Indian Natural Rubber Logo.         

Quantum of Financial Grant
The quantum of financial assistance given to the exporters of NR for participation in the international trade fairs along with the Board and the number of permissible visits with the Board’s assistance for one year are given below. 

Terms and Conditions

1. The participating exporter of NR should have registration for using Indian Natural Rubber Logo and have a valid RCMC issued by Rubber Board for complete 12 months and have filed returns to the Board regularly.
   
   
2. Exporting units of NR with an FOB value upto Rs 15.00 crore in the preceding year  will be eligible for the grant.
   
   
3. Exporting units of NR with an FOB value of more than Rs 15.00 crore will also be considered for financial assistance for their participation in international trade fairs, on fulfillment of an export obligation of 500 MT of INR branded products in the same financial year, in which the exporter participated in the trade fairs/exhibitions/buyer-seller meets along with the Board.  The claims will be processed only on fulfillment of the export obligation.
   
   
4. Travel Grant. The selected exporter will be eligible for a travel grant, limited to Rs 70,000/- for their travel in economy class to the host country of fair.  If the host country comes under Focus LAC, the maximum permissible travel grant will be Rs 1,00,000/-.  The grant will be made available as reimbursement on production of original air ticket/jacket and boarding pass as proof of travel along with the application/claim.
   
   
5. Stall rent will be initially paid by the Rubber Board to the fair organizer.  Participating exporter’s share of the stall rent would thereafter be reckoned as 5% of the stall rent or Rs 15,000/- whichever is less.  If the share of the stall rent so arrived at along with the travel grant exceeds the maximum financial grant per event, given in column No 4 of clause VII, the excess will have to be paid to the Board by the exporter.
   
   
6. Permissible air fare to the participating exporter is up to a maximum of Rs 70,000/- and in case of LAC it is Rs 1,00,000/-  This is inclusive of the total grant eligible as mentioned above in the table. 
    
7. Assistance shall be permissible to one regular employee/director/partner/ proprietor of the company.  Assistance would not be available to exporters of foreign nationality or those holding foreign passport.
   
   
8. The Company should not be under investigation/charged/prosecuted/debarred/ blacklisted under Foreign Trade Policy of India or any other law relating to export and import business.
   
   
9. Maximum assistance shall be inclusive of assistance received from all Government bodies or any other body
   
10. An exporter can participate in five trade fairs based on the sector-wise classification noted above.  However, the Board has the discretionary power to select the exporters for a particular fair.
    
    
11. The financial assistance under this scheme will be considered on receipt of the application completed in all respects within one month after participating the exhibition/trade fair/buyer-seller meets.
    
    
12. Chairman Rubber Board reserves the power to alter, modify or make any changes in the terms and conditions as detailed above or to grant or refuse any claim tendered by any exporter under this scheme.