Scheme for participation in International fairs and exhibitions with Tea Board

The Tea Board of India runs a dedicated sub-component under its larger market-promotion scheme titled “Scheme for Participation in International Fairs and Exhibitions with Tea Board”. It provides a platform for Indian tea exporters to showcase their products in international trade fairs and exhibitions overseas, engage in buyer-seller meets, raise the visibility of Indian origin teas, and generate export opportunities. The scheme is part of the broader “Tea Development & Promotion Scheme” for the period 2021-26. The benefit to you, as an MSME exporter of tea , is that you can participate in selected international events with financial support from the Tea Board, thereby reducing your cost of overseas promotion and increasing your market access.

Key Features
Financial Assistance
Eligibility Criteria
Documents Required
Application Process for the Scheme

Key Features

Coverage of select international trade fairs/exhibitions under tea-promotion pavilion: Selected fairs abroad are identified by the Tea Board under its “Bharat Brand” / “India Pavilion” framework where Indian tea exporters can participate under a coordinated Indian booth.
Eligibility limited to registered tea exporters having valid licence: Exporters must hold a valid Tea Board exporter licence/RCMC, submit required returns and not be under debarment/blacklist.
Assistance for participation costs such as airfare, stand space, booth fabrication, etc. : Financial support is given for specific cost heads such as air travel , space charges, decoration/fabrication of stall, subject to ceiling.
Priority allocations by category of exporter & product segment: The scheme outlines quota/representation across exporter categories for fair participation.
Focused on Indian origin teas and value-added / new markets: Only Indian origin teas are allowed for display; the scheme emphasises export of value-added teas and brand building abroad.
Selection on first-come-first-serve + adherence to application process: Applications for participation must be submitted online or in prescribed format; early submission and completeness aid selection.
Conditions of participation: display standards, company representative presence, no vacant stall allowed: Participants must man their stand through full fair duration; empty stalls or non-compliance may lead to debarment in future.

Financial Assistance

Component	Assistance Provided	Detailed Explanation & Example
Air-fare reimbursement	Partial reimbursement of economy-class airfare for one representative travelling India → destination → India on shortest route, subject to ceilings.	Example: If the fair is in Latin America, the maximum airfare support may be ₹1,00,000; you pay the ticket, then apply for reimbursement.
Stall space / booth participation	Support for participation charges at approved international fairs.	Example: You join the Indian pavilion of the Tea Board at “World Food Moscow”; your share of the booth cost is reimbursed/assisted per scheme norms.
Display & marketing support	The scheme may cover cost of display of Indian teas, promotional literature, sampling etc in the fair. (	Example: You bring value-added tea samples and brochures; cost of sampling/display is covered per guidelines.
Selection & fair coverage	Scheme covers selected fairs listed annually by Tea Board; events eligible are pre-approved.	Example: The Tea Board announces that “Gulf Food Dubai Jan 2026” is eligible for the scheme for 2025-26.
Cost sharing & budget constraints	The scheme may require co-payment or share of costs by participants; assistance is subject to budget & availability.	Example: Even though your airfare ceiling is ₹70,000, you may pay ticket and apply; reimbursement subject to verification and budget availability.

Eligibility Criteria

Who can apply:

Exporters of Indian tea holding a valid Tea Board exporter licence with the Tea Board.
Exporters must not be under investigation, prosecution, debarment or black-listing on trade/business grounds.
Exporters must have submitted monthly export return to Tea Board and must not be a defaulter in return submission.
Only Indian origin teas may be displayed/promoted under this scheme; teas not majorly Camellia sinensis or origin other than India are not eligible.

Who cannot apply:

Tea products from other origin countries or blends where Indian tea is not major component may not qualify for display under the scheme.
Applications incomplete or submitted after cut-off may be rejected.
In case of non-compliance the applicant may be excluded from future events under the Tea Board.

Documents Required

Valid Tea Board exporter licence / RCMC.
Importer-Exporter Code of the company.
Monthly export returns submitted to Tea Board .
Undertaking that the applicant is not under investigation or prosecution or debarment or black-listing.
Product details and declaration that only Indian origin tea will be exhibited/promoted.
Application form for the event and fee/participation charges payment proof.
Travel ticket and other prescribed cost invoices .
Post-event utilisation certificate, photographs of booth, list of samples displayed, buyer-seller meeting schedule etc.
Any other document required in the event-specific notice/circular by the Tea Board.

Application Process for the Scheme

Option 1: Apply with Bullit

Click here to start with guided support. Our team verifies eligibility, compiles documents, and handles application & follow-ups on your behalf. You can monitor progress while focusing on operations.
Recommended for: exporters seeking smooth entry into international fairs under the Tea Board banner.

Option 2: Official Application Route

Keep track of the Tea Board’s call for applications for each fair/exhibition .
Submit your application online with required details and pay the application fee / participation charges on time.
Wait for scrutiny by the Tea Board; selected participants will be informed.
On selection, you will be allotted stall space under the Tea Board pavilion. Arrange travel, logistics, sampling, display, additional booth furnishing as per guidelines.
Post‐event you must submit feedback report, details of orders generated, boarding passes, etc within stipulated time.

Option 3: Through Your Export Promotion Council or Trade Association
If you are member of tea exporters association, coordinate via that body and apply under the scheme jointly with Tea Board through the association’s facilitation. Some fairs may allow group participation via associations.