Territory businesses impacted by COVID-19 can access support to adapt and reach new markets through the Trade Support Scheme – COVID-19 Quick Response Grants.

Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 the Territory Government has now released a third round of grants.

The grants provide critical support to businesses to overcome disruptions impacting global trade including travel restrictions, disruptions to supply chains and changes to global markets and customer demand.

Eligible businesses can access funding to carry out works that will drive increased revenue and export activity.

Grants of up to $7,500 are now available on a 50-50 co-contribution basis to access support through the following two categories:

Export planning: grant funding can be used to engage a consultant to develop or update an export strategy or plan.

Digital solutions for exports: grant funding can be used for online international marketing activities, such as:

• developing or upgrading an e-commerce platform and websites, including foreign language translations
• innovative use of digital platforms and developing targeted social media strategies
• taking part in virtual events or trade shows
• promotional resources to reach international customers.

Previous recipients have used these grants to identify new international markets, build new e-commerce platforms and engage consultants to assist with international product launches.

Applications for the third round are now open and close on 30 November 2021

For more information visit nt.gov.au/tradesupport

Quotes from Minister for Northern Australia and Trade, Nicole Manison

“The Territory Labor Government acted quickly to protect lives and jobs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen the Territory reopen our businesses and economy much earlier than most parts of the world.

“Over 20 Territory Businesses have already shared in $150 000 in funding to grow their export capabilities under this Scheme.

“The Trade Support Scheme Quick Response Grants are helping Territory businesses rebound from the impacts of Covid-19 through jobs, not cuts.

Quotes from Minister for Small Business, Paul Kirby

“These grants will help our fantastic local businesses access new markets right across the globe.”

“Growing the international customer base for our brilliant local products helps to create more jobs right across the Territory.

“The Territory punches so far above its weight as a producer of goods and services and we’re using these grants to help them let the rest of the world know.”

Quotes from Director Universal Site Monitoring, Mr Emil William Tastula

“These sorts of NT Government export trade development support funding opportunities have been critical to USM over the last few years. Especially during the product global market potential analysis period, where it was important to be at key market player attended trade shows, to show what we had developed so far, look firsthand at what other tech companies had or were proposing to develop, and make sure we were on the right track and ahead of the crowd”

“Then COVID came along, and marketing and sales tactics had to change radically, as a tech start up business pre revenue, its hard and expensive to have to radically change marketing and sales plans, and head down an altered path to market. Fortunately there was NT Government export trade development support funding opportunities to counter the negative impacts of the global pandemic, and like many NT Business at that time USM benefited from the availability of such grants to easy that unforeseen financial pressure”