No. CLE/EXH/Spoga/Sep/2018                                         March 27, 2018.

To

 All Members of the Council

Dear Member,

 Sub: Inviting Participation in the SPOGA Horse Fair, (Passion & Profession) Cologne, Germany, September 2-4, 2018.

 Dear Member,

Germany is the second-largest global importer of Harness and Saddlery items, with its imports increasing sharply from US $ 126.41 million in 2012 to US $ 147.13 million in 2016.  India’s export of Harness & Saddlery items to Germany has also been growing, from US$ 22.32 million in 2012-13 to US$ 28.69 million in 2016-17.  With the aim of enhancing our market share in Germany, the Council is planning to organize the “Group Participation” of 25 member exporters in a total area of 300 Sq.mt in the September 2017 edition of Spoga Horse fair with support from the Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAIS) of the Govt of India.

Market for Indian Saddlery & Harness Products –The global imports of Saddlery & Harness had increased from US$ 1255.41 mn in 2010 to US $ 1451.66 mn in 2016, growing at a cumulative annual growth rate of 3.70%.   India had a significant share of 9.86% in the global Saddlery & Harness trade during 2016.

Germany is the leading importer of Saddlery & Harness products from India, and further, eight of the top ten leading importing countries of Indian Saddlery & Harness items i.e. UK, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, are from the European Union,  with this region having a share of 74% in Indian Saddlery & Harness exports.”

About the Spoga Horse Fair

 

Spoga Horse Autumn (September 2017)- Passion & Profession

With a tilte of “Passion & Profession”the Spoga Horse Fair opned its gates from September 3-5, 2017 at Koelnmesse GmbH, Koln the Cathedral City at the Rhine River. Spoga Horse Autumn and Spoga + gafa 2017 registered around 39,000 trade visitors on the final day of the fiar who came from 113 countries, 60 percent of whom came from abroad and as such this fair has once again become more international. This clearly underpins the leading international position of the trade fair.

In terms of number of exhibitors, this year’s event achieved a three percent increase. 425 exhibitors from 32 countries participated in the fair. 81 % of which were from abroad. Participated at spoga horse autumn. These included 82 exhibitors from Germany and 343 exhibitors from abroad who had presented their new products in the fair cutting edge innovations & latest developments of the equestrian industry to the international trade visitors. The companies rely on the trade fair as an industry platform and appreciate the first –class quality of the trade visitors.

Once again, spoga horse autumn impressed with an expanded range of offers in Hall 11. As a result of the adapted layout over the two floors of the hall, the trade visitors quality of stay was further optimized. Whereby all key players of the equestrian sport industry were represented in Hall 11 and offered the trade visitors a condensed market overview. Furthermore, the young, innovative companies that presented themselves to the international trade visitors in the pavilion of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) also brought a breeze of fresh air and new ideas.

Each product range is resented trendy fashion, boots, saddles, bridles, care products and feed supplements. In addition to riding fashion, helmets, shoes, saddles and bridles, care and feed supplements, through to accessories and services. Spoga horse also offered an extended range items for dogs this year. Many equestrians had a dog walking with them at the barn and outdoors. Footfall of the visitors was good in all the three days of the fair. All the exhibitors were quite busy in their business negotiations and most of them have received very good future business.

 Spoga Horse, Cologne Sep 2-4, 2018 – In order to support member – exporters of Harness & Saddlery who are predominantly from the MSME sector to take part in this specialized fair for Equestrian Products in Europe, the Council had approached the Dept of Commerce to provide necessary funding support to organize member-participation in Spoga Horse Fair, September 2018 Edition under the Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAIS) of the Govt. of India, for the fourth time. The Council’s proposal for facilitation of Members’ participation in the Spoga Horse, September 2017, with funding under MAI scheme has been approved, subject to the participation of at least 30 eligible member-companies in the CLE India Pavilion in the Spoga Horse, September 2-4, 2018. The subsidized Participation Charges for a 12 Sq mt bare space cost is about Rs.80,000/-. The 12 sq.Mt bare space charges includes Space cost, 1 Round Table, 4 Chairs & Carpet and other Organizing Expenses including the Auma Fee, Garbage Charge, Media Promotion Package, Visitor Promotion Package, and Services of CLE like Common Interpreter, Profile Booklet, Drinking Water, etc.

 It may be noted that the MAI Guidelines stipulate that MAI assistance would be given to individual member-companies for only up to 3 participations in a fair. Hence, members are urged to avail of this opportunity to take part in the SPOGA Horse September 2-4, 2018, at the subsidized cost of participation.

Regarding MAI Support, Members may also kindly note the following:

Support under MAI scheme is admissible only for a 12 sq mtr booth ; to ensure equal availing of assistance under this scheme by all participants.

• In case an additional booth is required by a company or companies from the same group, the same will be allotted at the actual cost based on payments made towards Space cost, Registration fee, other charges payable to the Fair organizer and other organizing expenses. (In other words participation cost will be without funding support from the MAI scheme).
• Similarly, members wanting to have more than 12 sq mtr space will be required to pay for the additional space and accessories, etc which will be without funding support of the MAI scheme. The additional space cost alone Rs.43,000/- per 3 sq.mt charges. The space can be enhanced in multiples of 3 sq.Mt. This will again be based on actual payments made.
• As participation in this Fair is being organized with funding support under the MAI scheme, no assistance under MDA scheme will be available to individual exporters.

Participation Charges/ Sq.Mt wise	Subsidized Charges	Un-Subsidized Charges (Who completed participation under MAI funding more than three times consequently)
For 12 Sq.Mt Space	Rs.1,00,000	Rs.3,10,000
For 15 Sq.Mt Space	Rs.1,50,000	Rs.387,500
For 18 Sq.Mt Space	Rs.2,00,000	Rs.4,65,000

Interested members are requested to confirm their participation in the Sept. 2018 edition of the fair, by sending the duly filled Application Form (copy enclosed) along with the payment of the Participation Charges as stated above on or before April 20, 2018.

Reimbursement of Economy Excursion class air fare by shortest route for MAIS-Eligible Participants Only:

Members participating in this fair (whose Export Turnover during 2017-18 is more than Rs 3 lakhs and less than Rs.30 Crores) can claim  Air Fare reimbursement on economy excursion class by the shortest route subject to fulfillment of other MAI Eligibility Criteria as per the revised MAI Norms.  MAIS Intimation Application should be received by the Council by giving minimum 14 days Advance Notice excluding Date of Receipt of Application in the Council and Date of Departure from the country. It is also to be noted that as mandated in the Guidelines, in order to claim Air Fare Reimbursment the Company Representative traveling to the Fair must be a Regular Partner/Proprietor/Director of the Company

Members are requested to kindly extend their co-operation to the Council in booking space in a good location in September 2018 edition of SPOGA fair, by sending the Participation Fee along with the completed Application Form at the earliest and positively within the said deadline. It may be noted that participants will have to arrange the German Visa on their own. However, the Council will arrange for an Invitation Letter from the fair organizer to facilitate obtaining of visas by participants. Kindly note that non-issuance of Visa will not be considered as a valid ground for withdrawal subsequent to confirmation of participation. Hence, withdrawal from participation after confirmation will not be allowed.

 

Thanking you,

With Regards

R.Ramesh Kumar, IAS

Executive Director