E-commerce Grant Program — Closed 

The E-commerce Grant Program (EGP) is designed to provide Queensland exporters with up to AU$10,000 of grant funding to enhance their e-commerce presence in international markets to drive online sales.

Small to medium sized enterprises can apply for funding to assist with the eligible project costs of successfully marketing, re-engaging or enhancing a new or existing e-commerce presence in an international market.

This program is an initiative of the Queensland Economic Recovery Strategy: Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs with a focus on reinvigorating trade relationships post COVID-19. It is a part of a suite of programs that Trade and Investment Queensland and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) are delivering to build capabilities and capacity in global e-commerce. Whilst food and agribusiness are key areas of focus, the program has been extended to impact more broadly across Queensland exporters from a wider range of industry sectors.

Specifically, the program aims to:

• assist Queensland exporters to finalise a planned new offering/presence on an e-commerce platform in an international market, either directly or with an in-market partner
• assist Queensland exporters to re-engage with international markets and activate their market re-entry strategies using e-commerce platforms following COVID-19
• enable Queensland exporters to be more competitive on e-commerce platforms in their chosen market.

First round, target international markets:

• China
• Europe
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Korea
• Latin America
• Middle East
• New Zealand
• North America
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

Key dates:

• Applications open: 22 March 2021
• Applications close: 23 April 2021

Eligibility criteria

Only one application per funding round will be accepted per business.

To be eligible to apply for the EGP the applicant organisation must:

• have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for GST
• be headquartered in Queensland – meaning the ABN must designate that the organisation’s Principal Place of Business is in Queensland. (Trade and Investment Queensland will use the ABN and ASIC website to verify the applicant’s business details)
• be a company, incorporated in Australia or be an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust
• have no more than 200 full-time-equivalent employees
• not be a subsidiary of a group of companies that has 200 or more full-time-equivalent employees in total
• be an existing exporter that has a trading history of more than 12 months
• not use Commonwealth, State, Territory, or local government grants for this project
• produce and export Queensland products and not act as a consolidator or distributor of Queensland, other domestic or imported products.

If you have any questions, email eCommerce@tiq.qld.gov.au

About e-commerce 

The use of e-commerce by Australian businesses to support export has been growing steadily over the past decade but has seen an acceleration due to COVID-19. The disruption to global supply chains and restrictions on travel have meant that businesses have been more willing to adopt new business models, and according to Austrade, COVID-19 has fast tracked Australian businesses’ e-commerce performance to reach volumes not projected to be reached until 2030.

E-commerce refers to all aspects of operating a business online and has changed the way global markets operate. People can discover, buy, and receive food, health and wellness products, cosmetics, clothing and many other products from all around the world within shortened time frames.