Singapore’s Market Readiness Assistance Grant for SMEs

Singapore’s Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant is a powerful government initiative designed to help local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) enter new international markets. Managed by Enterprise Singapore, the MRA Grant lowers the cost of global expansion by subsidizing key activities like overseas marketing, business development, and market set-up.

In this updated 2025 guide, we cover everything SMEs need to know: eligibility, claimable expenses, funding limits, application process, real-world examples, and recent policy updates.

What is the Market Readiness Assistance Grant?

The Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant is a targeted funding scheme offered by Enterprise Singapore that provides financial support to SMEs venturing into new overseas markets. It was created to empower businesses with global ambitions by reducing the financial burden of their initial internationalization efforts.

By offering co-funding for expenses related to overseas promotion, business development, and market set-up, the MRA Grant reduces the risks associated with market entry and ensures SMEs can invest with greater confidence. The grant is specifically designed for early-stage international expansion, typically for companies exploring new countries where they have minimal or no presence.

MRA Grant Objectives

The core objectives of the MRA Grant are:

• Encourage Overseas Expansion: The MRA grant aims to motivate SMEs in Singapore to venture beyond domestic borders and discover untapped markets abroad. This aligns with Singapore’s broader economic strategy to encourage businesses to diversify and build resilience by accessing global revenue streams.

• Defray Market Entry Costs: The cost of entering a new market can be prohibitive, especially for smaller firms. The MRA grant helps absorb a significant portion of these costs (up to 50%), including marketing campaigns, professional advisory services, and operational set-up, thereby reducing the financial risk of expansion.

• Support Market Expertise: MRA also facilitates knowledge acquisition by enabling SMEs to access expert consultancy services. This includes guidance on navigating trade regulations, compliance standards, and leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Such support ensures that businesses are well-informed and compliant from day one.

• Catalyze International Growth: The ultimate goal is to help SMEs build a sustainable and profitable international presence. By reducing entry barriers, the grant helps companies accelerate their global growth strategies and contribute more significantly to Singapore's economy.

  
  

Who is Eligible in 2025?

As of 2025, the following eligibility criteria must be met to qualify for the MRA Grant:

• Singapore-Registered Business: Your company must be incorporated in Singapore and actively operating, not merely a holding or shell entity.

• Minimum Local Shareholding: At least 30% of the business must be owned by Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents. This ensures that the grant supports businesses with strong local roots.

• SME Definition Compliance: Your company must fall under the definition of an SME: having annual group revenue not exceeding S$100 million, or fewer than 200 employees. This includes the total for parent, subsidiary, or associated companies.

• Entering a New Overseas Market: The target country must qualify as a "new market," defined as one where the company’s annual sales did not exceed S$100,000 in the last three years. This ensures the grant is used to genuinely explore and develop new markets.

• For-Profit Businesses Only: Only companies with a commercial objective and intention to generate overseas revenue are eligible. Non-profit organizations, government agencies, and investment holding companies are excluded.

• Project Must Be Overseas-Focused: The project must clearly relate to international market entry and cannot be used for domestic activities disguised as internationalization.

  
  

What Expenses are Covered?

The MRA Grant supports only third-party expenses across three core pillars:

1. Overseas Market Promotion (S$20,000 cap):

   • This includes costs for digital and offline marketing campaigns in the target country.

   • Examples: social media advertising, search engine marketing, influencer engagement, and traditional media buys.

   • It also supports participation in international trade exhibitions (booth rental, travel costs, collaterals, etc.).

   • Objective: To build brand awareness and customer engagement in the new market.

     
     

2. Overseas Business Development (S$50,000 cap):

   • This pillar includes business matching services, partner searches, and hiring consultants or agents to help identify leads.

   • It also covers the cost of deploying a staff member to the overseas market to build relationships and execute BD tasks (salary support, travel, and accommodation).

   • Objective: To establish a functional business network that enables long-term success in the market.

     
     

3. Overseas Market Set-Up (S$30,000 cap):

   • Covers the initial costs required to establish a business presence, such as legal fees, incorporation costs, IP registration, and tax advisory.

   • Also includes consulting on FTAs, compliance, product classification under HS codes, and licensing.

   • Objective: To legally and operationally establish your company in the new market and ensure it complies with local laws.

     
     

Important: Only external third-party services are claimable. Costs incurred by internal teams or affiliated companies are excluded. Each application must focus on one overseas market, and the combined funding across all pillars must not exceed S$100,000 per market.

Grant Amounts and Funding Rules (2025)

As of 2025, the following funding parameters apply:

• 50% Co-Funding: Enterprise Singapore will reimburse half of the eligible expenses under each approved project.

• Maximum Support per Market: A company can receive up to S$100,000 per overseas market.

• Sub-caps per Pillar: Marketing (S$20K), Business Development (S$50K), and Set-Up (S$30K) to ensure balanced fund usage.

• Timeline: Applications must be submitted within 6 months of the project’s planned start date, and the project must be completed within 12 months.

• Audit Requirement: All claims require independent audit by a pre-approved auditor to verify expenses.

  
  

If you qualify for the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC), you may also offset a portion of your 50% out-of-pocket costs (up to $10,000), effectively lowering your financial exposure even further.

Application Process (Step-by-Step)

1. Eligibility Check: Confirm your company qualifies and your target market meets the "new market" definition.

2. Activity Selection: Identify the specific activity you want to undertake (marketing, BD, or market set-up) and select a credible third-party vendor.

3. Document Preparation: Gather required documents including financial statements, detailed vendor quotes, credentials, and project proposals.

4. Submission via Business Grants Portal (BGP): Submit your application online using your CorpPass login. Incomplete or retrospective applications will be rejected.

5. Evaluation & Approval: EnterpriseSG typically processes applications within 8-12 weeks. You may be contacted for clarifications.

6. Letter of Offer & Acceptance: Once approved, you’ll receive an LOF specifying the grant amount, duration, and approved scope. Accept it to activate funding.

7. Project Execution: Execute the activity as approved and within the specified timeline. Any changes require prior approval.

8. Claims & Audit: Upon completion, submit a claim with all payment records and an audit report by a qualified auditor.

   
   

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Retrospective Applications: Starting a project before receiving grant approval will lead to rejection.

• Incomplete Documentation: Missing quotes, financials, or vendor credentials delay or disqualify applications.

• Unqualified Vendors: Engaging vendors without relevant experience in the target market may reduce your chances.

• Overlapping Grants: You cannot double-dip by using MRA for costs already covered by other grants (e.g., LEAD, EDG).

• Internal Work: Internal employee costs are not claimable unless part of an approved overseas posting.

  
  

Real-Life Success Stories

1. Milieu Insight: A Singapore-based market research tech firm used MRA to establish operations in Vietnam. They engaged InCorp Vietnam to incorporate a subsidiary, manage payroll, and handle compliance, resulting in a smooth and fast market entry.

2. CargoSavvy: A local logistics firm expanded to Vietnam using MRA to fund legal registration and licensing costs. The grant enabled them to hire consultants who navigated the regulatory environment, allowing the company to launch its operations efficiently.

   
   

These examples highlight how MRA support can reduce upfront costs and provide expert guidance that speeds up international growth.

Related Grants & Support Schemes

• Enterprise Development Grant (EDG): Supports broader transformation efforts, including product development and long-term international strategies.

• Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation (DTDi): Offers 200% tax deductions for international marketing and BD costs.

• Global Ready Talent Programme (GRT): Co-funds overseas internships and attachments to build internationally-ready talent.

• Overseas Market Immersion Programme (OMIP): Offers up to 70% support for salaries of employees posted abroad.

• LEAD Programme: Provides subsidized participation in trade shows organized by industry associations.

• Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS): Helps SMEs secure loans for overseas expansion and acquisition.

  
  

Using these programs in tandem can create a complete roadmap for successful internationalization.

2025 Policy Updates

• Enhanced Cap Extended: The S$100,000 per-market support cap has been extended until 31 March 2026.

• Standard Support Level: The grant now consistently co-funds 50% of costs after reverting from the temporary 70% COVID support.

• Relaxed Reapplication Rules: SMEs may apply again for the same market if annual sales in that market remain below S$100K.

• Digitalized Application Flow: The Business Grants Portal (BGP) has been upgraded for better usability and faster processing.

• Return to In-Market Activities: With travel resumed, EnterpriseSG encourages in-person business development over virtual methods.

  
  

Your Gateway to Going Global

The MRA Grant is one of Singapore’s most effective tools for enabling SMEs to take their first step into international markets. With up to S$100,000 in funding available per market, the grant minimizes financial risk and provides access to vital expertise. By combining MRA with other government initiatives like EDG, DTDi, or OMIP, businesses can develop a comprehensive global expansion strategy.

Whether you're targeting regional markets like Indonesia and Vietnam or exploring further regions such as the Middle East or Europe, the MRA grant is designed to support your entry. As success stories show, early support from MRA has helped SMEs establish new revenue streams and long-term international presence.

Start planning early, prepare your documentation carefully, and make full use of the resources available. With the right guidance and funding, global growth is well within reach.

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Sources: 

• Enterprise Singapore – Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant (official details on objectives, funding quantum, eligibility and application process). 

• Enterprise Singapore – MRA Grant FAQ (clarifications on criteria, new market definition, restrictions and complementary schemes). 

• Enterprise Singapore – List of Supportable Activities under MRA (examples of covered costs in overseas promotion, business development, and set-up categories). 

• Ministry of Finance (Singapore Budget 2025) – Annex on Internationalisation Schemes (extension of MRA enhanced cap to 31 Mar 2026 and DTDi to 2030). 

• Business Times / Sovereign (Budget 2025 summary) – Note on MRA grant cap extension and scheme continuation. 

• InCorp Asia – Singapore’s MRA Grant Case Studies (examples of SMEs Milieu and CargoSavvy expanding overseas with MRA support). 

• Workforce Singapore – Overseas Markets Immersion Programme (OMIP) (information on 70% salary support for overseas postings). 

• Association of Trade & Commerce (ATC SG) – 2025 Singapore Grants Guide (overview of MRA and other grants updated as of Budget 2025). 

• CNPLaw LLP – Updates on MRA Grant 2020 (Background on enhancements made in 2020: grant cap increase from $20k to $100k, support level 70% till 2023).