19 March 2024
CHANGES TO EMDG RULES ANNOUNCED
The rules for future rounds of EMDG have now been released. These will come into effect for round 4 applicants and apply to grants for expenses incurred in the 2025/26 expense year. Austrade has indicated that grants for this period will open in late 2024 or early 2025.
A summary of some of the major changes to the rules are as follows:
- To apply you must have been in business for 2 years and have an annual turnover of at least $100,000.
- Grants will be issued on a first-in basis – once the budget for that round of funding has been exhausted no further grants will be offered.
- For first-time applicants, there will be a greater focus on export readiness.
- Tightening of conditions where the goods being promoted are not made in Australia.
- Grant agreements will be for a maximum of two years.
- The three tier system will remain and there are no significant changes to the definitions of these tiers.
- Maximum grants for each of the 3 tiers will be announced before the round opens.
- The CEO of Austrade will be given broader powers. For example, the CEO may priorities grants for promotion in certain geographical markets to align with federal trade policy.