The government’s Capacity Building of First Time MSE Exporters (CBFTE) scheme—part of the International Cooperation Scheme—is aimed at making micro and small enterprises (MSEs) more globally competitive. Under this initiative, first-time MSE exporters can claim reimbursement for specific export-related expenses, easing their entry into international markets.
The reimbursable costs include charges for registration-cum-membership certificates (RCMC) with export promotion councils, export insurance premiums, and expenses for obtaining testing and quality certification required for exporting products.
Support Limits and Financial Assistance
The CBFTE scheme outlines clear support limits for reimbursements:
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Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) Charges: 75% of the RCMC charges are reimbursed, subject to a maximum of ₹20,000 or the actual cost, whichever is lower.
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Export Insurance Premium: Financial assistance of up to ₹10,000 per financial year or actual cost, whichever is lower.
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Testing and Quality Certification: 75% of the cost is reimbursed, with a ceiling of ₹1 lakh per financial year or actual cost, whichever is lower.
An MSE can avail support for up to three certificates per financial year, provided that all certificates and export activities occur within the same financial year.
Eligibility Criteria for MSEs
To qualify for assistance under the CBFTE scheme, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
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Must be a registered micro or small enterprise on the government’s Udyam portal.
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Must possess an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) that is not older than three years at the time of export shipment.
Applications must be submitted online through the official portal (ic.msme.gov.in). New users must first register on the portal before proceeding with the application process.
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Required Documents for Reimbursement
Applicants must provide specific documents depending on the type of reimbursement they are seeking:
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For RCMC Charges:
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IEC code (not older than three years)
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Receipt of RCMC fee
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Proof of export during the same financial year
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For Export Insurance Premium:
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IEC code
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Receipt of insurance premium payment
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Proof of export during the same financial year
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For Testing and Quality Certification:
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IEC code
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Proof of export shipment for the product tested
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Proof of mandatory requirement for testing and certification
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Self-certification confirming that benefits under the Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme have not been availed for the same purpose.
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Simplified Process for New Exporters
Once registered on the CBFTE portal, applicants can track their progress through a dashboard, where the system calculates the admissible financial support. This digital interface ensures transparency and streamlines access for first-time exporters, helping them offset critical costs as they expand into global markets.