Invitation to participate in EXPOCOMER PANAMA from 22-25 March 2017

23^th January 2017

TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL,

Re: Invitation to participate in EXPOCOMER PANAMA from 22-25 March 2017

Dear Sir/s,

We are glad to inform you that the Council proposes to organize participation of its member-companies in EXPOCOMER, a prestigious Fair in Panama after organizing its first-ever participation in the said International Fair during 2004. This Event, which is an approved program of the Council for 2016-17 by the Ministry of Commerce under MDA Scheme, will be organized by the Council with the active support of the Embassy of India in Mexico.

Details of EXPOCOMER, PANAMA:

Organizers : Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Agriculture
Dates : 22^nd–25^th March 2017
Venue/ Place of Fair : ATLAPA Convention Centre Av 5 B Sur, Panama, Panama
Timings : 1.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Product Coverage : Textiles, Apparels, Accessories, Footwear, Costume Jewellery etc.

Market Potential : Panama is a growing market for textiles and clothing products. Exports of Indian MMF textiles to Panama have been steadily growing during 2015-16. Panama is also a potential market for other textile products like Apparel, Cotton and Silk etc. Panama imported around US$ 2.38 billion of various textile products during 2015. However, Indian share in Panama’s total imports of textiles and clothing is only 2.39% - amounting to US$ 57 million. Hence, there is substantial scope for all segments of Indian textiles to increase their market shares in Panama.

The Colon Free Trade Zone (CFZ) continues to play a key role in the regional and global trade, as does the Panama Canal. People from all over the world come to Panama to do business in the CFZ. The Colon Free Trade Zone is the main commercial distribution centre for Central America, the Caribbean and parts of South America. As the second largest Free Trade Zone in the world, eclipsed only by Hong Kong, the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) houses more than 2500 merchants spread over 400 hectares of land, and receives more than 2,50,000 visitors annually from all over the world.

The highlights of the Panama Textile & Clothing market are as follows:

Panama’s total import of T & C from world during 2015 was over US$ 2.38 billion, in which India’s share was only 2.39%.
Panama’s total import of Apparels from world during 2015 was over US$ 1.96 billion in which India’s share was only 1.76%.
Panama’s total import of Man-made/Synthetic textiles from world during 2015 was over US$ 221.96 million, in which India’s share was only 6.38% (US$ 14.17 million).
Countries, which are supplying Man-made/Synthetic textiles to Panama are USA, China, Taipei, India, Brazil and Argentina, among a few others. As far as total T & C are concerned major suppliers are China, USA, Colombia, Brazil, India and Thailand etc.

Why to participate in EXPOCOMER PANAMA? :

EXPOCOMER is undoubtedly, Central America’s most recognized, multi-sectorial exposition of textiles, among other products like footwear, costume jewellery etc.
As Panama, in the Central American region in particular, and Latin America in general, remains largely unexplored for exporting Indian MMF Textiles, participating in EXPOCOMER will offer an excellent opportunity to participant for developing/expanding their trade in this highly potential region.
Thousands of businessmen visit EXPOCOMER annually searching for business opportunities, partnerships and customers. Throughout the years, Delegations of exhibitors, buyers and visitors from over 30 countries in Europe, Asia & America have relied on the effectiveness of EXPOCOMER to promote their products and services in order to access the highly potential markets.
Panama’s main product of import from India is textiles.
Textiles represent a major component of this exposition.

Booking of air-tickets, hotel accommodations, & assistance for Visa : The Council will offer necessary assistance to representatives of participating companies for all the matters relating to the booking of air-tickets, arranging Hotel accommodations and obtain their Visas. As regards to Visa, the Council will arrange to get passport details of participants (not more than two) endorsed by the concerned authority in Panama through the Embassy of India, and help participants to obtain their Visa to visit Panama.

Participation fees : An amount of Rs.2.25 lakhs has been fixed towards participation fee in the above Fair for a Standard booth of 9 sq.mtrs. (3m x 3m). In this connection, an Early Bird discount of Rs.5,000 will be offered to those confirming participation in the Exhibition along with full payment and duly filled-in Application Form at the earliest but not later than 2^nd February, 2017. Please note, this Early Bird Discount will not be available on the expiry of the stipulated date. However, confirming participation in this International Fair in Panama will remain open only upto 10^th February 2017 (without any Early Bird discount).

Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) : Since the above programme is approved by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India for offering financial assistance to member-participants through MDA grant, an amount of Rs. 1.25 lakhs will be offered to a maximum number of 12 eligible member-participants – irrespective of their annual company-turnovers but subject to the fulfillment of conditions stipulated in the MDA Guidelines. The award of eligible reimbursement of MDA is based on submitting the required documents as per the MDA guidelines on time, delayed submission will affect the award of MDA. For more details, you may please like to contact the Council.

Terms and Conditions : All Participants will be given a standard sized exhibition-booth of 9 sq.mtrs. (3m x 3m) each with furniture & product display equipments etc. (as indicated below) on the basis of their availability to the Organizers of the Fair to arrange to display their products. The other terms & conditions for participation in the above Exhibition are as follows:

The amount of participation fee, as mentioned above, does not include any expense of representatives of participating firms like air-fares, hotel expenses etc.
Each selected Company will have to depute a minimum of one Senior Executive (but not more than 2) to the above Exhibition at its own costs.
Booth package, which will be offered to participants, will include one discussion table, two chairs, one rail or shelf, lights, sign board and one dustbin. Any other extra requirements, not included above, will have to be borne by participants on the basis of additional costs, which will be charged by the Organizer of the Exhibition.
Member-participants will be selected absolutely on “First-come-First-serve” basis with full payment and dully filled in Application Form. Hence, Applications coming to us without the above requirements will be considered deficient, and accordingly the same will not be accepted to offer Early Bird Discount.

Participation/Cancellation Policy : Cancellation will be decided on the basis of the following criteria :

80% of participation fees will be forfeited, if participation is withdrawn within 5 days from the last date of receipt of application (i.e.10^th Feb. 2017).
No refund will be available, if participation is withdrawn on any date thereafter.

How to apply : Members, who are interested in participating in the above Exhibition, are therefore, requested to immediately confirm their participation by sending the duly filled-in “Application Form (download)” on the basis of above terms & conditions and with the full amount of participation fee, as indicated above. Confirmation of participation in above Exhibition will only be accepted, if participants send their full participation charge through a cheque /DD drawn in favour of “The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council, Mumbai” at the earliest but not later than 10^th February 2017 (Friday). Participation charge may also be transferred to the Council on the basis of the RTGS details given in the “Application Form (download)”.

Awaiting your confirmation for participation very soon.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

V. ANIL KUMAR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Encl : “Application Form (download)”