At the recent Power Talk with EEMA, the virtual series curated by the apex body of event and experiential agencies, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping & MSME addressed concerns related to the events sector.
Through this webinar EEMA put forward some of the issues that the events sector is reeling under due to the ongoing lockdown.
Since EEMA closely works with numerous small and medium size event agencies spanning sectors like Experiential, MICE, Weddings, Political Events, Religious or Cultural Events etc, the aim of the session was to explore how EEMA could work more closely with the government and impact the MSMEs in the sector.
Sanjoy K Roy, President, EEMA and MD Teamwork Arts highlighted the relief measures which the association is seeking from the government. These include:
1. Loan benefits for MSME players in the event and entertainment industry and providing loans on a much easier accessible basis.
2. Release the payment of dues to the event agencies from the state and the central government which can help the companies as well as artists, daily wage workers and all those related to the ecosystem.
3. Relief on GST or benefit of taxes.
4. Payment of tax refunds which are already cleared. It can help companies to ease the passage in the coming months.
The Union Minister was asked about the ruling party using events as an effective tool of communication and despite that the sector not getting its due recognition and support that it should get.
Addressing this concern, the Union Minister said that the contribution and work of the events industry will definitely give it respect and recognition.
“India is particularly accepting event management as a system and the job done by various companies is excellent,” he said.
The minister also said that it was important for all the EEMA members to get themselves registered under MSME to avail various benefits from the government. He also said that the government is ready to provide any kind of help that the association is seeking.
He also shared that the current situation is a big blessing in disguise for various companies.
He said, “No country including- Japan, USA and UK is ready to deal or do business with China. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from other countries in India can lead to the rise of the event industry.”
He assured that the government is with the event industry and will take decisions in its favour. “We will also appeal to the Finance Ministry to declare a new package. We will fight the war against corona and the economic war which has also started due to its impact,” he added.
Roy, President, EEMA thanked the minister for listening to the concerns of the industry and providing government support in such critical times.
