Export Market Development Grant (EMDG)

The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme is a key Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters. It is administered by Austrade.

Reforms to EMDG came into effect on 1 July 2021, reorienting EMDG from a reimbursement scheme to a grant program. During the transitional 2021–22 financial year, both the reimbursement scheme and grant program will run concurrently.

To be eligible, you must have turnover less than $20 million in the year prior to applying, this is down from $50 million under the previous reimbursement scheme.

If you are planning promotional activities from 1 July 2021 onwards, applications for the new grant program open at 9 am AEST on 16 August and close at 5 pm AEDT on 30 November 2021.

The EMDG program will retain many of the same features and benefits, plus a number of improvements:

• Simplified legislation
• A streamlined application process
• Apply once for a grant of 2 or 3 years
• Know how much funding you will receive before you spend.
• There are 3 different grants available, depending on your export-business maturity.
• There are also grants for industry representative bodies to help their members become export ready and export successfully.

Tier 1: Ready to export

• First time exporters
• 2 years and maximum $40,000 per financial year

Tier 2: Exporting and Expanding

• For businesses who are exporting and
• Expanding export promotion activities
• 3 years and maximum $80,000 per financial year

Tier 3: Exporting, expanding and strategic shift

• For businesses who are exporting and
• Expanding export promotion activities and making a strategic shift, for example targeting a new market or a new type of customer
• 3 years and maximum $150,000 per financial year

New in the grant scheme, are milestone reports, and milestone payments, and the requirement of the preparation of a plan to market.

If you would like to learn more about the EMDG, please visit https://www.austrade.gov.au/australian/export/export-market-development-grants/emdg-from-1-july-2021. 

For assistance with lodging a claim, please click the ‘Get in touch’ button below.