The Export Market Development Grants Program (EMDG) supports Australian exporters. Each year, it helps between 3,000 and 5,300 Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) start or expand their export business.

EMDG is an eligibility-based, demand-driven program. This means all eligible applicants receive a grant from the available funds. Grants 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 to be shared among all eligible applicants.

Types of grants for exporters

Small to medium enterprise (SME) exporters can apply for 3 different grants over 8 years. These may not be consecutive years. Grants are for eligible promotional activities.

Grants are available in 3 stages, or ‘tiers’. Each tier gives a different level of support for SMEs as they grow their export markets. The lengths of these grants reflect the different stages of an exporter’s journey.

Tier 1: Ready to export

For eligible SME exporters who:

• are ready to export in the grant year

• have not exported before

• have appropriate skills in marketing eligible products in a foreign country.

Grants agreements are offered for up to 2 years. Read section 4.2.2 in the EMDG Guidelines for more information. 

Tier 2: Exporting and expanding

For eligible SME exporters who are: 

• exporting eligible products

• seeking to expand export promotion activity for eligible products.

Grant agreements are for up to 3 years. Read section 4.2.3 in the EMDG Guidelines for more information. 

Read about exporting and expanding.

Tier 3: Exporting, expanding and strategic shift

For eligible SME exporters who are:

• exporting eligible products

• seeking to expand export promotion activity

• ready to make a strategic shift in the marketing of eligible products in a foreign country.

Grant agreements are for up to 3 years.

Read an example of expanding and strategic shift.

Grants for representative bodies

Representative bodies are industry bodies and alliances. If you are a representative body, you are able to access a grant to:

• enable you to undertake promotional activities on behalf of your members in international markets

• provide training to help your members become export ready.

There is no limit on the number of times you can apply for a grant.

You can only have one grant agreement operating at a time.