Question : EXPENDITURE ON FOREIGN VISIT OF DELEGATION

(a) the details of the expenditure incurred on sending business delegations to other countries for exploring new areas/ market and setting up joint ventures during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) whether the Government has incurred expenditure on participation of Indian small scale enterprises /entrepreneurs in exhibitions and buyers/sellers meets in which international bodies participated;

(c) if so, the details thereof during the said period;

(d) whether complaints have been received by the Government regarding providing false information /documents by some participants to avail grants from the Government;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI VIRBHADRA SINGH)

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and its organisations are providing financial assistance for deputation of MSME business delegations to other countries for exploring new areas of technology infusion/upgradation, facilitating joint ventures, improving market of MSME products, foreign collaboration and participation of MSMEs in international exhibitions, trade fairs and buyer -seller meets in foreign countries as well as in India and holding international conference and seminars on topics and themes of interest to the MSMEs.

The details of the expenditure incurred in this regard by this Ministry during each of the last three years and the current year are given below.

(Rs. in lakh)

Name of the Scheme	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	(up to	Feb. 2012)

International	175.00	200.00	399.42	142.00
Cooperation
Scheme of
the Ministry

Name of the Scheme	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	(up to	16.3.2012)

SSI-Market	240.00	240.00	220.00	345.00
Development
Assistance
Scheme of
the O/o DC
(MSME)

Name of the Scheme	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	(up to	Feb. 2012)

International	503.35	629.20	779.96	695.93
Cooperation
Programme
of NSIC