Home » R&D Tax Incentive Claim Preparation Services » Export Market Development

Export Market Development

The Export Market Development Grant ( EMDG) is a Government program that provides organisations with substantial cash rebates for overseas marketing expenditure. The scheme is designed as an incentive to encourage Australian exporters to develop overseas markets for their goods and/or services (including tourism and education).

Unlike other Government grants, EMDG is a non-competitive, demand-driven program which means if you are eligible and make an application you will receive a grant from the available funds. In order to be eligible, businesses must satisfy the below criteria:

• Company turnover for the  financial year prior to the financial year the application is made is less than $20 million;
• Grantees must match the grant with their own funds (meaning you must spend double the grant amount to receive the grant), as per the Grant Guidelines.

The current eligibility-based, demand-driven program replaced the previous EMDG reimbursement scheme. The previous scheme closed permanently on 30 June 2022.

How can Export Solutions Help?

Export Solutions have been focused on assisting with EMDG grants for over 25 years.  Our job is to use our in-depth knowledge of the EMDG legislation to make sure your claim is maximised. In addition we will:

• be available for on-site meetings to discuss your claim;
• provide immediate answers to your EMDG queries by phone or email;
• attend EMDG audits as required;
• provide an EMDG Kit^SM to help capture supporting documentation efficiently;
• electronic lodgement of claims;
• work on a success fee only basis.

What expenses can I claim?

Eligible expenditure includes:

• Overseas Representatives

The costs attributable to maintaining an overseas representative on an ongoing basis to market your business overseas. Eligible costs include salaries/fees, office expenses, travel and accommodation.

• Marketing Consultants

Expenditure incurred in engaging independent consultants who provide service relating to market development and market research. Consultants may be located either in Australia or overseas, but must be unrelated to the applicant.

• Overseas Marketing Visits (Travel)

The cost of airfares and ground travel plus a daily allowance to assist with accommodation and meals.

• Product Promotion (Free Samples)

The actual cost of providing free product samples to potential overseas buyers including the cost of providing famils in the tourism industry.

• Trade Fairs

The external costs associated with participation in overseas trade fairs, conferences, in-store promotions, international forums, private exhibitions or similar promotional events.

• Promotional Literature & Advertising Material

The external costs associated online marketing, including Facebook, Instagram, Google and more. Also brochures, magazine adverts, videos, store posters and reasonable external costs associated with the development of promotional websites and a percentage of website hosting costs are also claimable.

• Patents and Trade Marks

The cost of registering and maintaining patents and trade marks in a foreign country (excluding NZ).

• Overseas Buyers Visiting Australia

Airfares, transport, accommodation and meal costs associated with bringing overseas buyers, or potential buyers, to Australia to evaluate goods, services or intellectual property are eligible.

How much money will we get back?

Grant amounts vary for each round and are not based on the maximum grant tier caps. The grant amount depends on the:

• number of eligible applications in the round (referred to as demand);
• available program budget shared among all eligible applicants.

This means that Austrade will calculate how much funding will be given to all eligible applications based on the demand in that round.

Export Solution runs FREE information sessions which cover all EMDG aspects. Join us to find out:

• Whether your business will qualify for EMDG funding
• Categories of eligible expenses
• Learn, through real client case studies, how Australian companies have accessed EMDG funding

For more information, please contact export solutions