Export Promotion Support (Hansard, 29 January 2003)

§ Dr. Murrison
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support is available for UK companies exhibiting abroad. [91843]

§ Ms Hewitt
British Trade International supports UK companies wishing to exhibit at overseas trade fairs through the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA) scheme. All UK businesses and organisations involved in exporting from the UK are eligible for support. Grant entitlement is currently limited to three participations in most countries (five in Japan, China (excluding Hong Kong), Russia and the USA).
The basic level of grant for eligible participants is 60 per cent. of their expenditure on stand space and stand construction up to a maximum of £2,300.
The scheme is over subscribed, resulting in restrictions on the number of exhibitions in the programme, and on the number of companies in each group. Estimated expenditure on supporting UK organisations exhibiting abroad during 2002–03 is £21 million.

§ Dr. Murrison
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support her Department gives to UK companies for the purpose of exchanging 923W abroad; and what assessment she has made of support given by (a) France and (b) Germany to businesses based in those nations exhibiting abroad [92356]

§ Ms Hewitt
British Trade International supports UK companies wishing to exhibit at overseas trade fairs through the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA) scheme. All UK businesses and organisations involved in exporting from the UK are eligible for support. Grant entitlement is currently limited to three participations in most countries (five in Japan, China (excluding Hong Kong), Russia and the USA).
The basic level of grant for eligible participants is 60 per cent. of their expenditure on stand space and stand construction up to a maximum of £2,300.
The scheme is over subscribed, resulting in restrictions on the number of exhibitions in the programme, and on the number of companies in each group. Estimated expenditure on supporting UK organisations exhibiting abroad during 2002–03 is £21 million.
The Director of Trade Partners UK, International Business Schemes attends twice yearly meetings of the West European Trade Facilitation Exhibitions Group (WETFEG) this forum is attended by a number of European State countries with similar schemes to SESA. Through this committee Trade Partners UK receive periodic reports from the member states on their various trade fair schemes and programmes. We are not aware of any assessment on the support given by France and Germany.