About Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme:

• It is an export promotion scheme envisaged to act as a catalyst to promote India’s exports on a sustained basis. 
• The scheme is formulated on focus product-focus country approach to evolve specific markets and specific products through market studies and surveys. 
• Assistance would be provided to Export Promotion Organizations/Trade Promotion Organizations/National Level Institutions/ Research Institutions/Universities/Laboratories, Exporters etc., for the enhancement of exports through accessing new markets or through increasing their share in the existing markets.
• Under the Scheme, the level of assistance for each eligible activities has been fixed.
• The following activities will be eligible for financial assistance under the Scheme:
  • Marketing Projects Abroad
  • Capacity Building
  • Support for Statutory Compliances
  • Studies
  • Project Development
  • Developing Foreign Trade Facilitation web Portal
  • To support Cottage and handicrafts units
• Eligible Agencies: Departments of Central Government and Organisation of Central/State Governments including
  • Indian Missions abroad
  • Export Promotion Councils
  • Registered trade promotion Organisation
  • Commodity Boards
  • Apex Trade Bodies recognized under Foreign Trade Policy of Govt of India
  • Recognized Industrial & Artisan Clusters
  • Individual Exporters (only for statutory compliance etc.)
  • National Level Institutions (e.g. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), National Institute of design (NIDs), NIFT etc.)/ Research Institutions/Universities/ Recognized laboratories, etc.
• The funding for each project will be on cost-sharing basis with the sharing pattern ranging from 65% to 50% at the minimum.
• It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).