For many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) planning international expansion, the most practical first move is the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant. Unlike broader business grants that emphasise internal upgrades, the market readiness assistance grant helps you step into a new overseas market and meet real prospects. It funds the outward-facing work that proves demand, shortens time to first deals, and lays compliance rails so you can operate with confidence. Other grants, such as EDG for capability building or PSG for tools, can play a role, but MRA Grant is usually the business grant that gets you in front of customers and partners fastest.
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA): funding & business grants overview
The MRA 3: categories funded by the MRA grant
Administered by Enterprise Singapore, the MRA supports three streams, often referred to as the MRA 3 categories:
- Overseas market promotion to build brand visibility: local PR, focused promotional campaigns, virtual trade fairs, and local-language marketing collateral creation.
- Overseas business development to open doors: structured business matching services, targeted outreach, and, where appropriate, dedicated business development personnel.
- Overseas market setup to minimise friction: foundational market entry activities such as intellectual property applications, trade compliance assessment, customs compliance, and other regulatory compliance essentials.
Funding is typically up to 50% co-funding on a reimbursement basis, with per-market caps, letting you test and adapt in a target overseas market with less risk while signalling a serious international enterprise plan.
Eligibility & how to apply for the MRA Grant on the Business Grants Portal
Before you apply for support via the Business Grants Portal (often called the business grant portal, grants portal or grant portal), confirm that your company is Singapore-incorporated with at least local equity ownership (commonly 30%), meets relevant group annual turnover or headcount thresholds, and uses independent Singapore-based vendors. You’ll need a CorpPass account to submit the MRA grant application, upload supporting documents, and later file your MRA grant claim.
Timelines, letter of offer & application processing time for MRA grants
Plan around the typical application processing time and wait for the letter of offer before starting work. Beginning earlier risks retrospective applications being ruled ineligible. Keep scopes tight and dates conservative so delivery matches what was approved on the grant portal.
Using MRA financial assistance in your growth plan
Why an MRA-first business grant path makes sense
MRA funds the work that actually unlocks conversations, such as localised outreach, virtual trade fairs, and business matching services, and covers sensible checks that keep momentum when deals mature: IP basics, trade compliance assessment, and customs compliance. If you’re pursuing market diversification or proving demand before deeper investment, MRA gives you the structure and financial assistance to do it properly. Securing MRA support from Enterprise Singapore also signals an organised global expansion strategy, reassuring distributors and potential joint venture partners, especially where free trade agreements influence pricing and paperwork.
Where other grants (EDG, PSG) fit around market readiness assistance
EDG strengthens your “engine” (brand, operating model, structured feasibility studies), while PSG equips teams with ready-to-use tools (CRM, e-commerce, POS) to execute and measure reliably. Many firms shore up capabilities with EDG/PSG, then rely on the MRA grant to activate in the new overseas market they’ve prioritised.
Compliance & audit essentials before an MRA Grant application
Treat compliance as part of the plan, not an afterthought. Map sector rules in your destination market and confirm labelling, country-of-origin or certification needs. Decide which trademarks or design protections to file early through intellectual property applications. Keep a tidy paper trail, agreements, deliverables, invoices and bank proofs, so claims meet audit requirements and category caps.
Scoping & execution in your target overseas market
Promotion & brand visibility with the MRA Grant
Define the audience, channels and assets for your target overseas market, and set KPIs that show traction. Capture media outputs and analytics for promotional campaigns and virtual trade fairs to evidence market presence.
Business development & partner access: making the grant work
Clarify partner profiles, outline how business matching will run, and set targets for high-quality meetings. Agree on lead definitions and meeting-quality standards early so outcomes are objective and defendable at claim stage.
Set-up, trade compliance & IP: preparing an MRA Grant claim
List the checks and filings, such as trade compliance assessment, customs compliance, and any intellectual property applications, that must precede distribution. Handling these market entry activities up front reduces friction when you start contracting with distributors or potential joint venture partners.
Evidence, reimbursement and your MRA grant claim
Itemise budgets by category on the portal, upload complete supporting documents and vendor quotes, and execute to plan (after the letter of offer). Document outcomes as you go (reports, meeting logs, contracts, invoices, payments) so your MRA grant claim aligns with audit requirements. Teams that maintain a single claim pack throughout delivery usually move faster through the reimbursement review.
Why Cipta Mata for your MRA Grant: apply for, execute, and claim
Cipta Mata connects policy and paperwork to real-world delivery, especially for Indonesia:
- Plan & scope: translate goals into MRA-compliant plans; validate eligibility (e.g., 30% local equity ownership, group annual turnover thresholds and any overseas sales limit considerations); align budgets and KPIs to the three categories.
- Portal & paperwork: assemble the MRA grant application on the Business Grants Portal, ensuring every supporting document is complete and consistent, from quotations and scopes to schedules and risk notes.
- On-ground execution: localise content, run PR, organise virtual trade fairs, deliver business matching services, and provide hands-on market entry support so outreach converts into meetings and opportunities.
- Claims & compliance: front-load regulatory mapping, coordinate IP filings where necessary, and compile evidence to the scheme’s audit requirements so the MRA grant claim is smooth and defensible.
- Scaling wins: once momentum builds, extend activity into additional cities or segments and, where relevant, layer EDG/PSG to reinforce the next phase of overseas business development.
The result is an MRA project that is compliant on paper and commercially effective in market, turning financial assistance into measurable outcomes.
Expand Abroad with Confidence: Leverage the MRA Grant
When the priority is a confident first move abroad, the MRA grant is the most direct way to create visibility, secure meetings and lay the right foundations. Use EDG and PSG to strengthen capabilities where they matter; activate with MRA to win opportunities now. If Indonesia is your next stop, partner with a team that knows the ground and the Business Grants Portal inside out.
Considering Indonesia as your next market? Contact Cipta Mata to scope, apply, execute and claim your MRA project with confidence.
