For many small and medium enterprises, the strongest early gains from the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant come from focused marketing. Unlike capability projects that upgrade internal systems, the market readiness assistance grant funds the outward-facing work that gets you seen in a new overseas market and opens doors quickly. Administered by Enterprise Singapore, the scheme co-funds the right mix of overseas market promotion, content, events and localisation so you can build measurable market presence, then submit a clean MRA grant claim through the Business Grants Portal.
Why MRA Grant Financial Assistance Fuels First Entry
Marketing is where intent becomes visibility. The MRA Overseas Market Promotion category exists to create consideration in a target overseas market, while linking naturally to overseas business development and overseas market setup. When international expansion is the goal, early momentum usually depends on three things: getting noticed by buyers and potential joint venture partners, converting interest into qualified conversations, and showing traction that is measurable and claimable.
What the MRA Grant Covers Across Promotion, Development and Setup
Under the 3 pillars of MRA Grant structure, funding supports:
- Overseas market promotion for brand visibility through PR, paid media, virtual trade fairs, and marketing collateral creation.
- Overseas business development through business matching services and, where suitable, business development personnel.
- Overseas market setup through market entry activities such as intellectual property applications, trade compliance assessment and customs compliance.
Support is commonly up to 50% co-funding on a reimbursement basis, with typical caps of about S$100,000 per new overseas market.
What the MRA Grant Covers Under Singapore Business Grants
Digital and content campaigns
Local-language landing pages, always-on paid media, lead magnets, email sequences and social activations. Each asset is anchored to a clear proposition for the target overseas market. Budget for marketing collateral creation such as copy, design and short video, and run a test-and-learn cadence that proves relevance quickly.
PR and thought leadership
Press releases, media briefings, bylined commentary and creator partnerships can move credibility faster than ads alone. Strong plans mix storytelling with proof, for example pilot users, defensible data points and local partners that reduce perceived risk.
Trade shows and virtual trade fairs
Events create high-density moments with buyers, distributors and regulators. Specify which shows to join, the messages to bring, the number of meetings to secure and the follow-up rhythm. Connect each event to business matching services so interest becomes meetings and proposals.
Localisation and readiness
Effective outreach needs frictionless conversion. The MRA can support intellectual property applications where brand assets require protection, checks on packaging and claims, and operational basics that prevent campaigns outrunning fulfilment. Typical market entry activities include trade compliance assessment and customs compliance.
Apply for the MRA Grant on Business Grants Portal
A persuasive plan reads like a route to market. Define segments, buying triggers and objections. If you have feasibility studies, summarise insights. If not, gather directional proof through competitor scans, search trends, pilot feedback or distributor interviews. This clarity strengthens your case when you prepare the MRA grant application on the portal.
Channel mix and budget rationale
Explain why each channel matters. For example, PR for credibility, paid search for high-intent capture, LinkedIn for B2B targeting, and virtual trade fairs for concentrated meetings. Map the budget to outcomes rather than outputs and keep a small reserve for rapid testing so you can adapt without re-scoping the grant.
KPIs and measurement
Choose indicators you can defend. For PR, track reach and share of voice. For paid media, track cost per lead and pipeline value. For events and business matching, record meeting quality and conversion. These metrics make claims simpler and keep management decisions objective.
Timelines and processing
Plan for application processing time on the grants portal and wait for the letter of offer before work begins. Starting early creates retrospective applications, which are ineligible. Sequence promotion with overseas business development so prospects move quickly into structured conversations with your team or with business development personnel.
Eligibility, Vendors and Supporting Documents
Your company should be incorporated in Singapore with at least local equity ownership (often 30% local equity). It should fall within the relevant group annual turnover or headcount thresholds and respect any overseas sales limit rules where applicable. Use independent Singapore-based vendors. These parameters help ensure business grants benefit genuine SMEs and support market diversification.
Supporting documents and portal submission
Use a CorpPass account to submit your MRA grant application on the Business Grants Portal. The system is also known as the business grant portal, the grants portal or the grant portal. Upload complete supporting documents that match the proposed scope. Include itemised quotations, expected KPIs and a brief risk note that references regulatory compliance, relevant free trade agreements and sector norms.
Evidence to Secure Your MRA Grant Claim and Audit
Maintain a single claim pack that includes dashboards, media clippings, event passes, meeting logs, contracts, invoices and bank proofs. Tie screenshots and reports to the approved scope, then file your MRA grant claim promptly. This discipline speeds up review under the reimbursement basis and protects eligibility if sampled for audit requirements.
Link Promotion to Business Development and Setup
Create hand-offs that move attention to action.
- From awareness to meetings, route campaign leads into a clear outreach cadence. If business matching services are in scope, agree meeting-quality criteria so results are countable and defensible.
- From meetings to contracts, prepare trade compliance assessment, customs compliance and any intellectual property applications so partners can move swiftly to trial or distribution.
- From first wins to market diversification, once a core segment is validated, replicate what works in adjacent cities or verticals under the same framework. For Indonesia-specific execution, see Entering Indonesia with the MRA Grant.
Cipta Mata: Enterprise Singapore MRA Support
Cipta Mata provides portal fluency and local execution for Singapore companies applying for the Enterprise Singapore MRA Grant. We scope eligible marketing activities recognised by the scheme, prepare the MRA grant application with complete supporting documents, and deliver in-market execution with a team that understands Bahasa content, media relations, and buyer behaviour. As the exclusive facilitator for the Indonesia market, Cipta Mata also supports SMEs with market research, business development, and company set-up, ensuring both compliance and sustainable growth. This makes us a trusted partner for Singapore SMEs seeking expansion into Indonesia under the MRA scheme. For more information about Cipta Mata and MRA Grant.
Quick Checklist to Apply on the Grant Portal
- Clear customer definition and proposition for the target overseas market
- Channel plan that links spend to outcomes rather than outputs
- KPIs evidenced through media, analytics, meetings and pipeline
- Independent Singapore-based vendors with itemised quotes
- Compliance map for trade and customs, plus IP where needed
- Timelines that respect the letter of offer and launch windows
- A single claim pack template ready from day one that records market entry activities
Market Entry with MRA and Cipta Mata
The MRA grant helps SMEs create visibility, secure conversations and lay sound foundations in a new overseas market. By funding overseas market promotion, localisation, events and compliance, it turns intention into measurable traction within a disciplined, claimable framework. With 50% co-funding and a clear pathway for claims, it is a practical catalyst for a sustainable global expansion strategy. If Indonesia is next on your roadmap, contact Cipta Mata to apply on the Business Grants Portal, deliver a compliant plan and file a complete MRA grant claim.
