Proof That the MRA Grants Work
For Singapore SMEs, venturing into foreign markets can feel like a leap into the unknown. That’s why the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant isn’t just a funding tool it’s a growth enabler. When used strategically, it helps reduce the financial risks and accelerates results. But what does success look like when these mra grants are put into action?
The MRA Grant is offered by Enterprise Singapore to support companies that are ready to expand beyond local borders. The grant provides up to 50% co-funding, capped at S$100,000 per new market, covering costs in three main categories:
- Overseas Market Promotion
- Overseas Business Development
- Overseas Market Setup
Whether it’s through digital marketing, distributor outreach, or incorporation in a foreign market, the MRA Grant is designed to support the first steps of international expansion, including leveraging free trade agreements.
In this article, we explain the common success factors for companies that have maximised the MRA Grant without relying on hypotheticals or fictional case studies. Instead, we focus on practical advice, strategic frameworks, and real-world takeaways drawn from our consultancy work at Cipta Mata, where we specialise in supporting MRA projects between Singapore and Indonesia.
Understanding the MRA Grant: A Strategic Tool for Internationalisation
The MRA Grant is not a one-size-fits-all solution it’s a strategic tool designed to reward well-prepared companies with genuine plans for international market entry. It encourages SMEs to think long-term, reduce expansion risk, and increase accountability.
To be eligible for market readiness assistance, a business must:
- Be registered and based in Singapore
- Have at least 30% local equity
- Have group annual turnover of less than S$100 million or fewer than 200 employees
- Target a market where their current overseas sales limit is below S$100,000 annually
The grant allows for structured investment into overseas activities while supporting brand visibility, lead generation, and legal readiness. It is ideal for companies focusing on market presence, building a global expansion strategy, or setting up relationships with joint venture partners.
Beyond the financial subsidy, one of the greatest values of the MRA Grant lies in its ability to push companies to operationalise their expansion plans. From validating the business model in a foreign context to building local relevance, the grant’s framework encourages discipline, preparation, and market-specific adaptation.
Moreover, because the MRA Grant is claim-based, companies must track performance and output fostering a culture of accountability and project-based measurement.
Why Apply for the MRA Grant through the Business Grants Portal?
The Business Grants Portal serves as a centralised platform where SMEs can submit and manage their MRA grant applications. It’s where all documents ranging from vendor proposals to claim receipts are submitted for evaluation by Enterprise Singapore.
Applying through the portal ensures transparency and consistency, but it also requires precision. Every form field, document upload, and activity description needs to be aligned with grant conditions and backed by the necessary supporting documents. This precision is crucial for a successful MRA grant claim.
Whether you’re applying for the first time or managing multiple grants, working with experienced advisors like Cipta Mata can help you reduce errors and improve approval success. We can also guide you through the audit requirements to ensure compliance.
Key Activities That Lead to MRA Grant Success
1. Targeted Market Research and Justification
Successful applicants don’t just name a country they explain why that target overseas market matters. This includes identifying:
- Addressable market size
- Consumer demand
- Competitive gap
- Regulatory friendliness
Market research doesn’t have to be expensive. In many cases, companies can start with publicly available trade data, surveys, and social media trend reports. What’s important is that the research is relevant and clearly linked to the decision to expand into a specific region.
This groundwork also informs your feasibility studies, helping validate whether a proposed initiative makes strategic sense in a given geography.
Providing this insight during the MRA grant application process demonstrates commitment, reduces rejection risk, and shows alignment with Enterprise Singapore’s evaluation criteria.
2. Matching Activities to Business Objectives
The most effective use of the MRA Grant happens when market entry activities are aligned with specific expansion goals. For example:
- Want to generate leads? Choose digital marketing under Market Promotion.
- Need partners or retailers? Use Business Matching under Business Development.
- Looking to open an entity? Engage legal experts under Overseas Market Setup.
This precision ensures that every dollar of 50% co-funding supports a measurable business outcome.
Some applicants focus on capability building, such as training new staff or hiring business development personnel in the new market. These roles often support activities like promotional campaigns, virtual trade fairs, or trade compliance assessment.
Strategic planning around application processing time and market entry support ensures minimal delays and maximum impact.
What Documents Are Required for Your Application?
Submitting a comprehensive application means preparing several key items:
- Letter of offer from third-party vendors
- Corppass account access to log into the Grants Portal
- Signed service agreements and scopes of work
- Estimated cost breakdowns
- Timeline and deliverable schedule
Failing to include any of the above can lead to retrospective applications being denied, as well as reimbursement basis being misaligned with eligible cost categories. It’s essential to understand the audit requirements to ensure a smooth claim process.
Choosing the Right Vendors to Support Your Expansion
Working with experienced vendors increases the chance of a successful grant claim. Ideal vendors can help with:
- Intellectual property applications
- Legal advice on regulatory compliance
- Customised marketing strategies aligned to local equity ownership standards
They also assist with producing eligible outputs like marketing collateral creation, campaign reports, and distribution plans tailored to your new overseas market.
Collaborating with vendors that understand customs compliance and international enterprise structuring further strengthens your expansion foundation.
The Role of Cipta Mata in Your MRA Journey
Cipta Mata specialises in cross-border projects between Singapore and Indonesia, assisting both local brands entering Indonesia and Indonesian businesses entering Singapore.
We support SMEs in:
- Identifying the most suitable target overseas market and grantable activities
- Scoping proposals that align with grant cap limits (S$20K–S$50K–S$30K)
- Coordinating with third-party vendors for compliant deliverables
- Navigating the Business Grant Portal and structuring a compliant MRA grant claim
- Avoiding pitfalls like ineligible costs, timing mismatches, and missing documentation
We ensure the grant supports your business development activities while helping you avoid common traps, such as unsupported business matching services or inadequate documentation for overseas market diversification.
How to Stay Compliant After Receiving the MRA Grant
Receiving the MRA Grant is only the beginning remaining compliant throughout your funded activities is critical. Companies must maintain detailed records, adhere to the approved budget, and ensure deliverables align with what was proposed. From tracking vendor milestones to submitting timely reports, ongoing diligence reduces the risk of audit issues or reimbursement delays. This is especially important for activities involving cross-border transactions, where customs compliance and tax reporting may come into play. Cipta Mata provides hands-on support throughout the grant lifecycle to help clients stay compliant and confident.
Your Success Story Starts Here
The MRA grants offer a powerful opportunity—but only for those ready to meet its expectations with rigour and readiness. The stories we’ve helped shape aren’t about luck they’re about clarity, compliance, and consistency.
If your company is ready to expand between Singapore and Indonesia, let Cipta Mata guide you. We turn international ambitions into grant-supported action with confidence, clarity, and control.
