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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-09-04 Daily Xml
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Export Accelerator Program

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the minister update the chamber about how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting emerging and existing exporters to access overseas markets to grow their businesses and the South Australian economy?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for his ongoing interest in growing our exports. On Thursday 16 August this year, I had the great pleasure of launching the Marshall government's new Export Accelerator grant program. This program fulfils a key election commitment to offer more funding and more extensive eligibility criteria for export funding support. It will be delivered by the international team within the Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment. The South Australia Export Accelerator provides funding support to South Australian businesses at each stage of their export journey.

There are three categories within the new grant aimed at helping more South Australian export-ready companies to enter new international markets and to create jobs for South Australians. The categories are: the emerging exporter grant of up to $5,000, available to South Australian businesses that are exporting for the very first time; the Export Accelerator grant of up to $30,000, available to help fund international business expansion that will create multiple direct ongoing jobs; and the new market entry grant of up to $15,000 for mature export companies that have exhausted their grant funding but are looking to enter a new export market—$15,000 per new export market.

We want to help South Australian businesses to expand and to enter new international markets and grow their workforce, as well as enhancing our economic prosperity by creating pathways for local companies to generate two-way trade opportunities. The grants available will assist in making it easier for companies to do business and are targeted at those who are manufacturing right here in our state, as well as those who are contributing to our state's economy.

Our eligible activities under the South Australia Export Accelerator are also much more extensive than previously enjoyed by exporters. The criteria include: marketing materials, market research, e-commerce development, export training and consulting, participation in international trade shows and trade missions, inbound business support and travel, and accommodation costs.

Applications are now open on the DTTI website for the first round of funding and will close on 21 September 2018. I strongly encourage businesses that are ready to take this step to apply for a grant. We want to ensure the program delivers for our businesses and that they can access the markets that they view as great opportunities to grow and prosper. I have been very pleased by the positive reaction from the business community to the program and hope that many more apply for grants and are successful on their export journey.

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