Grant for Participation in Foreign Trade Fair / Niche Event (Subsidie voor Deelname aan Buitenlandse Beurs / Niche-Event)

Grant for Participation in Foreign Trade Fair / Niche Event (Subsidie voor Deelname aan Buitenlandse Beurs / Niche-Event)

Supports Flemish small businesses attending international trade fairs and niche events.

The Subsidie voor Deelname aan Buitenlandse Beurs / Niche-Event is a rolling reimbursement grant from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) that reduces the cost of international trade show and niche-event participation for Flemish SMEs and business organizations. For international trade shows, the standard reimbursement rate is 50% of booth rental costs up to a maximum of €5,000; first-time or infrequent applicants (fewer than four approved FIT applications since 1 September 2005) receive 75% up to a maximum of €7,500. Own-booth construction costs are reimbursed at 50% plus a 25% supplement, still capped at €5,000. Group booth participants receive booth rental costs minus a 25% reduction applied at the group level. Niche events pay a flat amount of €2,500 for standard applicants or €3,750 for first-time participants upon proof of active participation. For events held outside the European Economic Area, travel and accommodation costs are also reimbursed at 50% or 75% of FIT's published forfait rates. All submissions are accepted on a rolling basis through the MyFIT portal, with applications required at least 7 calendar days before the event start date or departure date for events outside the EEA. FIT targets a decision within 60 days of a complete submission. A maximum of four FIT subsidies total per applicant per calendar year applies across all FIT programs. Booth and event materials must display the official "Flanders – State of the Art" brand mark. Applicants must hold valid EU SME status and demonstrate export experience with clear added value for the Flemish economy, and must contact FIT's SubsidieDesk at SubsidieDesk@fitagency.be to confirm eligibility before submitting.