EXPORTERS TO RECEIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM EMDG

A total of 3,045 small and medium-sized businesses will receive their full entitlements for the second year running under the Export Market Development Grants Scheme (EMDG), run by Austrade to help exporters with their marketing expenses. Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Kelvin Thomson said applicants eligible for grants of more than $60,000 would be paid the balance of their eligible claims in full. Businesses with approved grants of up to $60,000 received the full amount of their eligible EMDG claims earlier this financial year. The EMDG, now in its 39th year, helps small and medium-sized exporters by partially reimbursing eligible promotion expenses. Recently announced changes to the scheme will allow businesses to claim more grants if they export to the emerging and frontier markets ofAsia. ‘Rapid growth inChinaand other Asian economies is creating a wealth of export opportunities for Australian businesses in areas such as high-end food and professional services,’ Mr Thomson said. These latest changes to the scheme will only further help Australian exporters to take advantage of this expanding array of business opportunities. The 100 per cent payout of grants this financial year means exporters are getting the best possible result from the EMDG,’ Mr Thomson said.