National Handicrafts Fair in Târgu Jiu: free participation and 2,500 lei for craftspeople

The Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) is organising the National Crafts and Handicrafts Fair in Târgu Jiu from 22 to 25 October 2026. Selected craftspeople and artisans take part free of charge and receive a lump sum of 2,500 lei for transport and accommodation. Registration is online, on the sme-ecotech.gov.ro platform, from 5 October at 10:00 until 15 October 2026 at 20:00. Selection is made in order of registration, for as long as places remain.

In brief

• Programme: National multi-annual programme for supporting crafts and handicrafts – National Crafts and Handicrafts Fair
• Authority: MEDAT, through the Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Tourism (AIMMT) Ploiești, which organises the event
• Beneficiaries: SMEs, cooperative societies (including mixed craft cooperatives), PFAs (sole traders), individual enterprises and family businesses, professional associations and foundations that promote crafts and handicrafts
• Support: free participation and a lump sum of 2,500 lei for each selected exhibitor
• Venue and date of the fair: Târgu Jiu, esplanade of the "Constantina Diță" Municipal Stadium, Gorj county, 22–25 October 2026
• Registration period: 5 October 2026 at 10:00 – 15 October 2026 at 20:00, on sme-ecotech.gov.ro
• Status: registration open; the deadline may be extended until all places are filled

Who can register?

According to the MEDAT announcement, the following can register: small and medium-sized enterprises, cooperative societies (including mixed craft cooperatives), PFAs (sole traders), individual enterprises and family businesses, as well as professional associations and foundations that promote crafts and handicrafts.

Cooperative societies, associations and foundations can register up to 10 exhibitors, on behalf of the craftspeople or artisans who are their members. For a craftsperson without a company or PFA, this may be the way to reach the fair, through the organisation they belong to.

What do selected exhibitors receive?

• A free exhibition space at the Târgu Jiu fair for the whole duration of the event (22–25 October).
• A lump sum of 2,500 lei, covering accommodation, the exhibitor's transport and the transport of products to the fair and back.

As it is a lump sum, you do not have to justify each expense individually. However, before you register, read the conditions for granting and payment on the platform, because the announcement does not detail them.

How and by when do you register?

1. You create an account on sme-ecotech.gov.ro, the same platform MEDAT uses for other programmes for SMEs. If you already have an account, you use that one.
2. You complete the fair registration form between 5 October at 10:00 and 15 October 2026 at 20:00.
3. AIMMT Ploiești checks the documents and the eligibility criteria. Places are allocated in order of registration, for as long as spaces remain available.
4. You receive an acceptance letter or, as the case may be, a rejection letter.

The official announcement does not say how many places are available and does not publish the full list of required documents. You will find them in the form on the platform. The 15 October deadline may be extended only if places remain free, so do not count on an extension.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: for a craftsperson, a small crafts company or an association of folk artisans, this is a low-effort opportunity. You need no co-financing and no project to write, and transport and accommodation are largely covered. Because places are allocated in order of registration, speed matters most:

• Register as close as possible to 5 October at 10:00. Prepare your company or PFA details in advance (CUI, CAEN code, contact details) and, if required, photographs of your products.
• Check your access to the platform in good time. Login or account problems are the most common cause of delay in online registrations handled in order of submission.
• Associations and cooperatives should decide internally, before registering, which maximum of 10 members they will put forward, so they do not lose time once the platform opens.
• Plan the logistics. For those travelling from far away, the 2,500 lei may not cover everything, especially with bulky goods. Do your calculations beforehand.

If you are also thinking about larger investments, for example a workshop, equipment or an online shop, in rural areas there are LEADER calls through LAGs (GAL) for non-agricultural activities. You can find out what suits you with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take part as an individual, without a PFA or company?

The MEDAT announcement does not list unauthorised individuals among those who can register directly. A craftsperson without a legal form can be registered by a cooperative society, association or foundation they belong to, which can put forward up to 10 exhibitors.

How much does a selected exhibitor receive?

Each selected exhibitor takes part in the fair free of charge and receives a lump sum of 2,500 lei for accommodation, their own transport and the transport of products to Târgu Jiu and back.

How is selection carried out?

AIMMT Ploiești checks the documents, and places are allocated in order of registration, provided the eligibility criteria are met and spaces remain free. Each applicant receives an acceptance or rejection letter.

Until when can I register?

Registration is open on sme-ecotech.gov.ro from 5 October 2026 at 10:00 until 15 October 2026 at 20:00. The deadline may be extended only if not all places have been filled.

Where and when does the fair take place?

The fair takes place from 22 to 25 October 2026, on the esplanade of the "Constantina Diță" Municipal Stadium in Târgu Jiu, Gorj county.

Official sources

• MEDAT – Registration opens for the National Crafts and Handicrafts Fair: free participation and 2,500 lei support for selected exhibitors
• The sme-ecotech.gov.ro registration platform

Information checked on 5 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.