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The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program is an Australian government initiative aimed at helping businesses expand into global markets by reimbursing a portion of their export marketing and promotion costs. The program offers tiered financial support based on the business's stage of export growth, with funding ranging from $20,000 to $80,000 annually. It reduces financial risks, offsets marketing expenses, and supports industry bodies, making it a key resource for Australian businesses aiming for international success.
What is Export Market Development Grants（ EMDG)
The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program is a government initiative designed to support Australian businesses in taking their products and services to the global market. By reimbursing a portion of the expenses incurred in export marketing and promotion, the program helps businesses lower costs and accelerate international growth.
Tailored Support Based on Business Goals
The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program offers substantial financial support to help Australian businesses expand globally. With up to $104.5 million in funding available annually for 2025–26 and 2026–27, this program provides an excellent opportunity to support your international growth.
Here’s what you can receive based on your business's export journey:
Tier 1: For businesses new to exporting or those preparing to start – Access $20,000 to $30,000 per financial year.
Tier 2: For businesses growing within existing markets – Receive $20,000 to $50,000 per financial year.
Tier 3: For experienced exporters aiming for significant expansion or diversification into new markets – Get $20,000 to $80,000 per financial year.
Representative Bodies: Industry groups that support SME exporters can secure up to $50,000 per financial year.
This funding can cover critical expenses like overseas marketing, trade fairs, and export-related training, giving your business the boost it needs to succeed globally. With such significant financial support on the table, now is the perfect time to take your export plans to the next level.
Eligibility Criteria: Can Your Business Apply for EMDG?
As a Business Applicant
To be eligible for the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program as a business applicant, you must meet the following requirements:
1). Your business must have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN).
2). Your business must have operated under the same ABN for at least two consecutive financial years.
3). Your aggregated annual turnover must be less than $20 million. This threshold varies by funding tier.
4). Financial Commitment:
You must demonstrate the ability to spend at least $20,000 per financial year on eligible export activities (exclusive of the grant amount).
This funding must come from your own business resources and cannot be derived from other Commonwealth, state, territory, or local government grants.
5). Marketing Plan:
Your business must have a high-quality marketing plan specifically tailored to your export objectives.
The plan must not be copied from another business, an EMDG application, or a generic template.
6). Your business must be tax-compliant and deemed fit to receive a grant.
7). Your business must meet all additional eligibility requirements as outlined in the EMDG rules.
As a Representative Body
Representative bodies, such as industry organizations supporting SMEs, are also eligible for the EMDG program but must meet some unique requirements in addition to the shared criteria with business applicants:
1). Ownership Structure:
Representative bodies must not distribute income to members or shareholders.
2). Training Plan (if applicable):
If you provide export training to SME members, your body must have a high-quality training plan designed specifically for this purpose.
3). Benefit Demonstration:
You must clearly demonstrate in your application how your proposed activities will benefit your SME members.
Final Conclusions
The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) can support local businesses and bring their products and services to the global market, which can effectively help companies reduce costs and accelerate the internationalisation of Australian businesses.