A total of $200,000 in grants will be given out and will be aimed at creating jobs by diversifying trade with Asia, with up to 20 grants available as part of round 2 of the Access Asia Business Grants program.
The round will focus on helping businesses to build and maintain competitiveness in Asian markets to contribute to WA’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
Businesses must be working in one of the priority sectors identified in Diversify WA, the state government’s economic development framework, including:
- Energy
- Tourism, events and creative industries
- International education
- Mining and mining equipment, technology and services
- Technology and advanced manufacturing
- Primary industries
- Health
- Defence
- Science and innovation
As well as SMEs, grants are open to industry associations and Asian business councils to support their business efforts in Asia, including key markets such as China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.
“The grants can be used for a wide variety of support projects, such as develop partnerships through specialist in-market support and services, increasing innovation in logistics and supply chain models and scoping new e-commerce models and digital platforms,” said WA Asian Engagement Minister Peter Tinley.
Access Asia Business Grants is an initiative of the WA government’s Asian Engagement Strategy 2019–2030: Our Future with Asia announced in August 2019 to support Asia-focused WA organisations to diversify the economy and help create jobs.
Expressions of interest for round 2 of Access Asia Business Grants opened on 12 October and will close on 23 October.
The second round of the program was initially opened in late February and postponed because of COVID-19.
Businesses interested in applying for the grant can do so by clicking here.
