BUSINESSES, particularly small ones, need to be aware of the export marketing tools available to them through both the Federal and WA governments.
Small Business Development Corporation managing director George Etrelezis said the main grant for export-ready small businesses was the Market Development Grant. The grant, administered by Austrade, reimburses up to 50 per cent of the expenditure incurred on export promotion above an initial $15,000.
Claims for the grant can be made for expenses associated with overseas representation and consultants, marketing visits, communication efforts, free samples, promotional literature and advertising, and the cost of bringing buyers to Australia. To access the scheme for the first time, businesses need to have spent $15,000 over two years on eligible export marketing expenses.
Organisations such as Austrade, the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the WA Government also organise trade missions to particular regions.
A recent WA Government trade promotion targeting Singapore resulted in export sales of nearly $500,000 for the WA firms involved.
The two parts to the promotion involved a contingent of WA companies taking part at the recent Food and Hotel Asia expo and a six-month promotion of premium Margaret River products at one of Jason’s Market City – one of Singapore’s top supermarkets.
Senior representatives from Cold Storage and Dairy Farm International visited Perth recently to investigate further trade opportunities.
Useful links for exporters are www.austrade.gov.au and www.sbdc.com.au
