Market Access Initiative (MAI)

Market Access Initiative (MAI) is a Plan scheme launched in 2003 with an objective to work as a catalyst to promote India’s exports on a sustained basis, based upon ‘Focus Product’ and ‘Focus Market’ concept. Under the Scheme, assistance is extended to the Departments of Central Government and organizations of Central/State Governments, Export Promotion Councils, Registered Trade Promotion organizations, Commodity Boards, recognized Apex Trade Bodies and Recognized Industrial Clusters and individual Exporters (only for product registration and testing charges for engineering products abroad).

Challenge Fund

Challenge Fund was set up under the MAI scheme with an objective to enable the Indian Missions abroad to better coordinate, synergize and facilitate India’s export promotion activities. Under this scheme, the Indian Missions would ‘bid’ for support from the Fund by submitting innovative export promotion project proposals, with priority for focused, specific projects with quantifiable/tangible results.