No. CLE/EXH/Spoga/Sep/2017                                        June 12, 2017.

To 

All Members of the Council

Dear Member,
Sub: Inviting Participation in the SPOGA Horse Fair, Cologne,
Germany, September 3-5, 2017.
Dear Member,
Germany is the second-largest global importer of Harness and Saddlery items, with its imports increasing sharply from US $ 108.33 million in 2010-11 to US $ 163.31 million in 2014-15.  India’s export of Harness & Saddlery items to Germany has also been growing, from US$ 18.45 million in 2010-11 to US$ 33.62 million in 2014-15.  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$ 1083.80 mn in 2010 to US $ 1407.45 mn in 2015, growing at a cumulative annual growth rate of 6.75%.   India had a significant share of 11.56% in the global Saddlery & Harness trade during 2014-15.

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

The Spoga Horse is an International trade fair for Equestrian Sports, which is a leading international trade fair for equestrian products for the entire European market and takes place twice a year during February and September in the exhibition centre of Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany.

Spoga Horse Autumn (September 2016) was sold out early on, although the organizer had made additional Exhibition Space available for the first time by almost 5 percent. The increase in the number of exhibitors was primarily due to the growth in the number of overseas exhibitors. The strongest European participation came from Great Britain, France and Italy. There were about 429 companies from 31 countries, 80 percent of which were from abroad who participated in the Spoga Horse Autumn Fair. Around 39,000 visitors from over 106 countries attended spoga horse and Spoga + gafa 2016. The share of foreign visitors was over 60%.

The excellent quality of the visitors was also confirmed by an independent Visitor Survey. Around 80% of the visitors interviewed are involved in procurement decisions, 56 percent are even decisive in the decision-making process.

Spoga Horse, Cologne Sep 3-5, 2017 – 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 2017 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 2016, with funding under MAI scheme has been approved, subject to the participation of at least 25 eligible member-companies in the CLE India Pavilion in the Spoga Horse, September 3-5, 2017. The subsidized Participation Charges for a 12 Sq m built up booth cost is about Rs.80,000/-. The 12 sq.Mt booth 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 3-5, 2017, 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.80,000	Rs.2,62,000
For 15 Sq.Mt Space	Rs.1,23,000	Rs.305,000
For 18 Sq.Mt Space	Rs.1,66,000	Rs.3,67,000

Interested members are requested to confirm their participation in the Sept. 2017 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 June 23, 2017.

Members are requested to kindly extend their co-operation to the Council in booking space in a good location in September 2017 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

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