The EMDG programme is being cut to shreds - time to make a voice!

The Export Market Grants scheme helping SME exporters grow -   Has been cut to shreds !!!

Exporters entitlements have  been reduced by up to 80pc -  making the benefit to the exporter marginal at best - says Ivan Kaye of BSI Innovation - who has been helping exporters access grants for 35 years 

The reason for this - he says - is that applicants have doubled , but the pool of money has remained the same.

What is the EMDG Grants Programme 

The EMDG now has three tiers for applicants and a dedicated stream for representative bodies - based on a $ for $ grant . 

👊🏼Tier one is for first-time exporters - entitling them to 2 grants of 40k per annum 

👊🏽Tier two is for the more established exporter - entitling them to 3 grants of $80k per annum 

and 

👊🏾Tier three  - is for those exporters looking to scale up their exports - with overseas offices - entitling them up to $150k per mum 

Grant applications closed in November 2021 and as yet - no assessments have been issued to tier 2 or 3 applicants .

Denham Sadler of Innovationaus.com spoke with Rod Campbell - chair of the Export Consultants Association - of which BSi is a founding member .

“This is a scheme that’s meant to deliver confidence – that’s laughable.” Says Rod Campbell - a long time export consultant 

The EMDG program will fail unless there is a significant overhaul, Mr Campbell said.

“[Former Trade Minister Simon] Birmingham said the EMDG is the most successful economic stimulus ever introduced by government, and it is. 

Now they’re throwing away 50 years of proven success for a mystery program, that will probably sit alongside most of the other grant programs that have failed,” 

There is now also a lack of expertise within Austrade with many of the top advisers resigning in despair 

Despite concerns being raised by Opposition and Government Senators, no extra funding for the EMDG program was provided in the recent budget, to support the engine room of the Australian Economy - SME exporters 

There has been announces a $100 million top-up over two years through the regional accelerator program - no further detail has been released on this 

Here are the guidelines of the new EMDG programme https://www.austrade.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/1433/2021-22%20EMDG%20Guidelines.pdf.aspx

Ivan Kaye says that he is amazed why the government will not wholeheartedly support Australian Exporters giving it a full go to grow their business , employ more people - and take Australian Products and Services to the world.

Let us campaign for the Government to honour the entitlements of Australian Exporters based on the EMDG programme proposed .

What am I missing????

Denham Sadler of Innovationaus.com