Grants give small businesses a boost in Asian markets

  • 22 WA businesses share in almost $480,000 through the Access Asia Business Grants program
  • Funding will help local businesses compete in Asia and contribute to the State’s economic recovery
  • Program is a key component of the McGowan Government’s Asian Engagement Strategy 2019-2030 
  • Twenty-two Western Australian small and medium enterprises will share in almost $480,000 in funding after securing support through the Access Asia Business Grants program.

    The McGowan Government program helps local businesses advance their international business efforts in Asian markets. It is also supporting the State’s COVID-19 economic recovery by increasing trade and investment opportunities with Asia.

    The program is a key component of the State’s Asian Engagement Strategy 2019-2030: Our Future with Asia.

    Grants of up to $25,000 (excluding GST) are being provided to businesses across a range of sectors, including international education; mining equipment, technology and services; primary industries; renewable energy; resources; retail; tourism, events and creative industries.

    Businesses will use the grants for activities such as scoping new supply chains, developing export plans that manage COVID-19 implications, developing marketing material for Asian markets and new e-commerce models.

    Eagle Bay Brewing Co was among the successful grant applicants and will use its funding to develop targeted marketing material promoting Eagle Bay beer in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

    The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies will use its grant to translate a mineral investment opportunities document for the China, Japan and South Korea markets, while Vegetables WA will promote a new e-commerce platform connecting WA vegetable growers with buyers in key Asian markets, including Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.

    The full list of successful Access Asia Business Grant round three recipients and their projects can be found at https://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/about-the-state/asian-engagement/access-asia

    To date, 52 WA businesses have been supported through three rounds of the program which first opened in 2019.

    As stated by State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook:

    “I’d like to congratulate all the businesses who received an Access Asia Business Grant in this latest round.

    “The activities supported through these grants show a commitment by WA businesses to innovate and adapt to retain a competitive edge in lucrative Asian markets.

    “Their enterprise will help WA increase investment and trade with Asia, which will boost local jobs and support our State’s economic recovery.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.