WHAT IS EMDG?  

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

Administered by Austrade, the scheme supports a wide range of industry sectors and products, including inbound tourism and the export of intellectual property and know-how outside Australia.  

THE EMDG SCHEME:  

• Encourages small and medium sized Australian businesses to develop export markets

• Reimburses up to 50% of eligible export promotion expenses above $5,000 provided that the total expenses are at least $15,000

• Provides up to eight grants to each eligible applicant  

To access the scheme for the first time, businesses need to have spent $15,000 over two years on eligible export marketing expenses.   

Applications for expenditure incurred in the financial year being claimed will open on 1 July of the following financial year and close on the November 30 of that year.   

Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) applications for the 2014-15 grant year, not lodged through EMDG Consultants approved under the EMDG Consultant Quality Incentive Program, must be lodged between 1 July 2015 and mid-night Monday 30 November 2015 Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) i.e. Canberra time.

Applications through EMDG Consultants approved under the EMDG Consultant Quality Incentive Program can be lodged between 1 July 2015 and mid-night 29 February 2016 Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) i.e. Canberra time.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR EMDG?  

Any Australian individual, partnership, company, association, co-operative, statutory corporation or trust that has carried on export promotion activities during the year for which they wish to apply for an export grant.  

To be eligible, the business must have:

• Income of not more than $50 million in the grant year? ?
• Incurred at least $15,000 of eligible export expenses under the scheme (first-time applicants can combine two years expenses)
• Principal status for the export business (some exceptions apply, eg. event promoters)  

The business also must have promoted one of the following:

• The export of goods and most services
• Inbound tourism
• The export of intellectual property and know-how
• Conferences and events held in Australia  

Under Austrade's Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme, certain organisations and groups, who would not otherwise be eligible to apply for a grant under the general provisions of the EMDG Act can obtain approved status to enable them to apply for a grant in their own right. The two categories of approved status available include approval as an Approved Body and Joint Venture.  

To find out more about EMDG Special Approval status visit: www.austrade.gov.au