As required under the EMDG Act, the Hon Mark Vail MP, Minister for Trade, has requested Austrade to conduct a review of the EMDG scheme and to give him a written report by June, 2005 making recommendations about the continuation of the scheme.

If you would like to make a submission. please click here for further details on the terms of reference of the review and how to prepare and lodge your submission. If you would like to make a joint submission with BSI, please contact Ivan Kaye at ikaye@bsi.com.au.

Mr Vaile said that Last financial year the EMDG scheme gave nearly 4,000 Australian companies a much-needed boost into international markets with funding of $150.4 million and that t hese companies generated exports worth $5.5 billion and employed around 122,000 Australians.

The EMDG Act 1997 provides the scheme with a sunset clause, under which the last grants paid under the current scheme would be made in 2006-07.

In accordance with the legislation, Mr Vaile asked Austrade to review the scheme and to give a written report by June 2005 making recommendations about the continuation of the scheme. Once received, he will table it in Parliament and the Government will consider its response to the report’s recommendations.

Ivan Kaye, Director of BSI noted that this is a fantastic opportunity for the business community, particularly small and medium enterprises that are trying to break into export markets, to make their views about EMDG known and to suggest improvements to the scheme.