The 2015 Review by independent reviewer Mr Michael Lee has been completed and is with the government. The EMDG program just celebrated its 40th anniversary - an achievement which underlines how valuable this scheme is to the development of new exports.

Mr Lee reported that the scheme remains highly relevant and continues to bring benefits to Australia. He recognised that certainty in the scheme gives exporters confidence to invest and approach new markets. He recommends some changes that will add to the certainty, including that funding from the government be increased to $175 million per annum by 2018/19. This is a level which our analysis suggests would enable full grant payouts at the current levels - so we are pushing for the funding to be lifted to that level now rather than progressively.

Export Solutions continues to lobby the government on behalf of exporters, including submissions this year about additional funding.

Just recently the Minister for Trade, Andrew Robb, responded to us positively, his letter saying "the injection by the Government of an additional $50 million over 4 years is playing an important role in ensuring the provision of a more adequate allocation of funding for EMDG" and "in considering the Government's response to the Review, I and the Government more broadly will need to consider the funding issue and determine what funding is appropriate for the scheme's future operation"

We see these as positive words and look forward to the governments decision.

Click here to read;

·         Our submission to the EMDG review

·         One of our letters seeking increased funding

·         Trade Minister Andrew Robb’s reply to our letter to Julie Bishop MP