Export grants now open

The sixth round of the South Australia Export Accelerator (SAEA) program is now open for businesses ready to grow their market reach internationally and expand their local workforce.

The SAEA program has three types of grants designed to assist South Australian businesses to export for the first-time, enter into new markets or to grow their international exports.
Minister for Trade and Investment David Ridgway, said the SAEA, now in its second year, has helped 80 businesses with their export efforts, covering a broad cross-section of sectors including food, wine and agribusiness, creative industries, hi-tech, health and medical industries and education.
“As well as entering new markets, this funding helps businesses grow their workforce, as well as enhancing our economic prosperity by creating pathways for local companies to generate two-way trade opportunities,” Minister Ridgway said.
“The funding program assists businesses to participate in international trade shows and business missions, produce marketing collateral, conduct market research, e-commerce development, export training and consultation, and contribute to travel and accommodation costs.”
Amongst the list of businesses to share in nearly $253,000 worth of funding in the previous round was Edible Blooms, a Keswick-based manufacturer of bouquets that can be eaten in lieu of traditional bouquets of flowers and hamper gifts.
Founders of Edible Blooms - South Australian sisters Kelly Jamieson and Abbey Baker, said their business, which was established in 2005, has become the leader in their gifting category and is proud to be a South Australian owned business.
“In recent years, Edible Blooms has expanded its footprint globally with operations now located in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Europe,” Ms Jamieson said.
“The unique product components used in the production of all Edible Blooms products are sourced locally in South Australia and distributed throughout our network domestically and overseas, which ensures maximum reinvestment into our home state.
“We believe our innovations coupled with our systems and processes gives us a strong competitive advantage, in both speed and cost of production, over any new market entrant or existing gift company in our niche.

“We will continue to invest in innovation to provide the business flexibility and differentiation, to maintain a competitive position and allow us to effectively penetrate new markets.”
Ms Jamieson said the United Kingdom was Edible Blooms first major offshore market since their New Zealand office opened in 2008 and are ambitious to continue their growth in new markets beyond this.
“Our export plan enables our United Kingdom sales to achieve the economies of scale we require to create new highly skilled employment opportunities in our Adelaide head office,” Ms Jamieson said.
“Our future growth has a positive impact on the local economy with trusted key suppliers, such as Detmold Packaging and Technoplas, benefiting from volume order increases.”
For the full list of Round Five recipients, visit: dti.sa.gov.au/trade/sa-export-accelerator/grant-recipients
The SAEA has three components aimed at helping South Australian export-ready companies to enter new international markets and to create jobs for South Australians:
Emerging Exporter – Grants of up to $5,000 are available to South Australian businesses that are exporting for the first time.
Export Accelerator – Grants of up to $30,000 are available to help fund business expansion that will create multiple direct ongoing jobs.
New Market Entry – Grants up to $15,000 (per market) are available for mature export companies, to help fund business expansion into new international markets.
South Australian businesses looking to apply for one of the three grants on offer, can do so by visiting www.dtti.sa.gov.au/saea and submitting an online application.

The sixth funding round of SAEA grant applications will close on Friday 6 March 2020.