Deadline: 22-Nov-22
The Government of Western Australia has launched the Access Asia Business Grants Program to help local small and medium enterprises advance their export activities in new Asian markets.
The Access Asia Business Grant (AABG) aims to support Western Australian small and medium businesses, and organisations such as Asian business councils and industry associations, to advance their export and trade in Asian markets and contribute to WA’s economic diversification.
The competitive grants program supports local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and organisations to advance their export activities and build their competitiveness in new Asian markets such as China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.
It is a key initiative under Western Australia’s Asian Engagement Strategy 2019-2030 – Our future with Asia designed to strengthen the local business sector’s Asia business capability.
Priority Sector
- Proposed projects must be in at least one of the following eight priority sectors outlined in the State’s economic development framework – Diversify WA – which includes:
- Energy;
- International education;
- Defence industries;
- Mining and mining equipment, technology, and services;
- Health and medical life sciences;
- Primary industries; and
- Tourism, events, and creative industries.
Funding Information
- A maximum of $27,500 (excluding GST) per application is available. Recipients are required to provide a net cash co-contribution of at least 20:80 applicant-to-Western Australian State Government funding.
- For example, a project of $34,375 (total cost excluding GST) would involve the recipient providing a minimum of $6,875 (plus any GST) themselves to supplement the $27,500 grant.
- Projects must be completed within 6 months of a fully executed Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA).
Eligible Activities
- Grant recipients can utilise AABG funding to undertake the following activities. Activities can be both Western Australia-based and Asia-based:
- Adopt new business models to expand market share
- Scope new supply or value chains
- Develop export plans
- Develop export plans that manage COVID-19 implications
- Develop new partnerships through specialist in-market support and services
- Increase innovation in logistics and supply chain models
- Scope new e-commerce models and digital platforms
- Gather in-market intelligence to capture new opportunities
- Develop new marketing collateral for Asian markets.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for assistance under the program. However, this does not automatically entitle applicants to assistance as the grants program is highly competitive and limited grants are available.
- Your proposed project is in at least one of the eight priority sectors outlined in the State’s economic development framework Diversify WA.
- Your business/organisation is an SME that employs fewer than 200 people or a not-for-profit group/industry association/business council that employs fewer than 200 people and is a legally constituted not-for-profit organisation recognised by the Department
- Your business/organisation has been registered and headquartered in Western Australia for at least 24 months.
- Your business/organisation holds at least one of the following:
- A valid Certificate of Incorporation
- A current Australian Business Number (ABN)
- A current Australian Company Number (ACN).
- Your business/organisation has had operations in Western Australia for at least 24 months.
- Your business/organisation is a legally solvent entity.
- Your business/organisation is willing, and has the financial capacity to contribute at least 20% of the project funding costs.
- Your business/organisation confirms that it will utilise the AABG funds (if successful) only on eligible non-capital expenditure items.
- Your business/organisation confirms that its service provider(s) is an independent third party i.e has no financial and direct ties with your business/organisation. (For projects that include a third party contracting service provider(s)).
- Your business/organisation confirms that the requested eligible expenditure is for services to be provided in the future.
- Your business/organisation has NOT previously received nor is likely to receive other Western Australian State Government funding for the same project/initiative.
- Your business/organisation has NOT previously received an Access Asia Business Grant for the same project/initiative.
- Declare any funding received or likely to be received from Commonwealth or other State/Territory Government agencies for the same project/initiative.
Ineligible
- The following are NOT eligible to apply:
- Businesses/organisations with 200+ employees
- Businesses/organisations headquartered overseas or in other Australian states and territories
- Businesses/organisations that are part of a bigger business group or corporation
- Businesses/organisations that are subsidiaries of other companies
- Shareholders or directors who are not citizens of Australia or residents of Western Australia
- Local councils, State Government or Commonwealth agencies and bodies
- Sole traders
- Employees of the Department and their immediate household.
For more information, visit https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2022/11/New-round-of-Access-Asia-Business-Grants-program-now-open.aspx
