Apply for New Market E-commerce Program (Australia)

Objectives 

• The objectives of the NMEP are to:
  • provide an initial support platform for businesses across Queensland for ongoing e-commerce export success.
  • assist exporters to overcome the challenges arising from executing international e-commerce sales.
  • create a pathway for success for new e-commerce export sales that will create additional employment across Queensland.
• In this program, the focus will be on TIQ priority markets listed below:
  • Greater China
  • UK/Europe
  • South Asia
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Latin America
  • Middle East/North Africa
  • The Pacific Islands
  • North America
  • ASEAN
  • Taiwan

Funding Information

• Trade and Investment Qld (TIQ) is responsible for administering the NMEP25-26, which provides matched funding up to $10,000 (excluding GST) to build capabilities and capacity in global ecommerce among experienced Queensland exporters.
• Grant period: The program ends 12 months from the Letter of Offer. Applicants must be ready to commence a project within 90 days of receiving the Letter of Offer and complete the project within 12 months of the Letter of Offer.
• Upon completion, recipients will need to prove they have completed the project and contributed matched funding by submitting invoices and receipts for all grant activities with the acquittal report. Recipients must also provide an Export Success Form, outlining the value of the export sale/s and potential jobs created. This is a mandatory requirement of the Program.

Eligible Costs

• Eligible project costs include but are not limited to external costs associated with:
  • online content development to support international e-commerce presence via a digital agency/marketing consultant (e.g. localised international content pages, mobile commerce).
  • product redesign, packaging, and labelling required to meet an e-commerce export market requirement for storage, distribution, or market regulation requirements.
  • enhancement of localised marketing material (eg visual and audio media, translation services)
  • purchasing of in-market advertising to support international e-commerce activities (email marketing, Marketplace Sponsored Advertising etc.) Note: Advertising expenses are limited to 50% of the TIQ Grant portion (eg for a $10,000 grant, only $5,000 can be spent on advertising and the other $5,000 must go to other eligible expenses listed here. Recipients must make a 1:1 matching contribution for all eligible expenses).
  • external ICT (Information and Communications Technology) to support e-commerce activities (eg website upgrades, functionality enhancements, implementing B2C platforms, email marketing solutions, logistics integration, domain name mapping, international market setup).
  • the setting up of a 3PL (third party logistics) partner for e-commerce sales to the international market (initial set up fees, initial 3PL receiver fees, in-market logistics consultant).
  • legal/tax/trademark advice to finalise e-commerce sales in-market and modify payment systems.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, applicants must:
  • be applying for funding of up to $10,000 ex GST and must be able to make a 1:1 matched contribution for each eligible expense
  • be an experienced exporter
  • have fully acquitted any grant they have previously received from TIQ
  • have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for GST
  • have a company address headquartered in Queensland
  • submit only one application per eligible business or financial beneficiary
  • be a sole trader, company incorporated in Australia or be an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust
  • be classed as a small – medium sized enterprise (SME) with no more than 200 full-time equivalent employees and not be a subsidiary of a group of companies that has 200 or more fulltime-equivalent employees in total
  • have a minimum trading history of two full financial years (demonstrated through the provision of financial statements in the business name)
  • have a project capable of being completed and delivering export outcomes within the grant period
  • be seeking to export to a new international market not previously exported to via an e-commerce platform
  • provide evidence of your ability to meet the matched cash contribution to the project for each eligible project costs
  • produce and export Queensland products/services and not act as a consolidator or distributor of Queensland, other domestic or imported products.
  • provide a TIQ-endorsed E-commerce Market Identification Certificate confirming the market suitability for your product, signed by a TIQ international representative
  • address all assessment criteria and attach all required documentation.

For more information, visit TIQ.