About the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant
A plain-English guide to Enterprise Singapore's MRA Grant: what it funds, how much you can get, what it will not pay for and what changes when EDGE arrives.
What is the MRA Grant?
The Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant is a government grant designed to help Singapore companies, especially SMEs, expand into overseas markets with reduced financial risk.
Purpose
The MRA Grant helps Singapore businesses establish and expand operations in overseas markets by providing substantial government co-funding for qualifying market development activities.
Who Provides It?
Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG or ESG) administers the MRA Grant. This represents the Singapore government's commitment to help local SMEs develop a globally competitive business ecosystem.
Key Objective
Reduce the barriers to international expansion by co-funding eligible overseas market entry and development activities. Think of it as a fast-track passport to global business growth.
What Budget 2026 Changed
Enterprise Singapore's Business Refresh Package raised the MRA support level for local SMEs and set out a transition to a new grant called EDGE.
Effective Period
1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
The enhanced 70% support level applies until 31 March 2029.
Support for Local SMEs
Up to 70% of eligible costs
Raised from the previous support level of 50%. Grant cap: S$100,000 per company per new market.
Coming in 2H 2026
Non-SMEs at up to 50%
Enterprise Singapore has announced that eligibility will extend to local non-SMEs at up to 50% support and that the "new market" criterion will be removed — both from 2H 2026, alongside the EDGE launch.
How the 70% and the S$100,000 Fit Together
The most common misreading of the MRA Grant is treating S$100,000 as a spending limit. It is not — it is the maximum grant.
Enterprise Singapore funds up to 70% of eligible costs, and the grant is capped at S$100,000 per company per new market. Working backwards: S$100,000 ÷ 0.7 ≈ S$142,900. So a company that wants to draw the full grant needs to run roughly S$143,000 of eligible project cost across the three pillars and will fund about S$43,000 of it itself.
| Pillar | Grant cap per new market | Eligible cost needed at 70% | Your share (30%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas Market Promotion | S$20,000 | ≈ S$28,600 | ≈ S$8,600 |
| Overseas Business Development | S$50,000 | ≈ S$71,400 | ≈ S$21,400 |
| Overseas Market Set-up | S$30,000 | ≈ S$42,900 | ≈ S$12,900 |
| All three pillars | S$100,000 | ≈ S$142,900 | ≈ S$42,900 |
Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. Audit costs count against the same pillar cap as the project they relate to.
One Application Per Pillar — and You Can Run All Three
This is the structural rule that determines how you plan your project.
One application per pillar
Each pillar is applied for separately. If you want trade fair support and an overseas entity incorporated, that is two applications: one under Overseas Market Promotion, one under Overseas Market Set-up.
Three pillars, concurrently
A company can hold live applications or projects under all three pillars at the same time for the same new market. Together they can draw up to the S$100,000 grant cap for that market.
Multiple markets, in parallel
The S$100,000 cap is per new market, so you may pursue several new markets at once. Enterprise Singapore will assess whether you have the financing and manpower to deliver them all.
One exception worth knowing
Within Overseas Business Development, you cannot run Overseas Marketing Presence (your own BD staff in-market) and In-market Business Development (outsourced BD services) concurrently for the same market. Pick one.
MRA Grant Pillars and Caps
Three pillars, each with its own grant cap and its own application. Full detail on the three pillars page.
| Pillar | What it covers | Grant cap |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas Market Promotion | Overseas marketing and PR activities that build brand visibility and product awareness (in-store promotions, road shows, pop-up stores, publicity across social and online/offline media); overseas physical trade fairs (booth space rental and booth design/construction, each capped at 36 sqm, pitching or speaking slots, marketing collaterals); and virtual trade fairs (virtual booth access, webinars, post-event analytics, business matching sessions, logistics for shipping product samples). LEAD-supported fairs, B2C-only fairs, co-shared booths and Singapore-domestic marketing are not supported. | S$20,000 |
| Overseas Business Development | Identification of potential overseas partners — licensees, franchisees, agents, distributors, suppliers, JV partners and logistics providers — through partner research and in-person one-to-one business matching; Overseas Marketing Presence, the deployment of a full-time Business Development employee in-market (basic salary plus office rental, 6–12 months); and In-market Business Development, outsourced BD services (3–12 months). Group meetings, vendor sourcing and investor/fundraising meetings are not supported. | S$50,000 |
| Overseas Market Set-up | Establishing a legal presence in the target market: incorporating an overseas entity, intellectual property registration (the Singapore applicant must own the IP), tax structure planning, import/export licences and certifications, trade credit insurance and drafting market-specific business agreements. Generic or template agreements without market-specific provisions and standalone IP objection costs, are not supported. | S$30,000 |
What's NOT Covered?
Understanding key exclusions ensures appropriate project planning and budget allocation.
In-house Staff Salaries (One Exception)
General staff salaries are not eligible. The exception sits under Overseas Business Development: Overseas Marketing Presence supports the basic salary and office rental of a dedicated, full-time Business Development employee physically stationed in the target market for 6 to 12 months. That employee must not work remotely, must not hold a concurrent role such as operations manager and must not hold shares or a directorship in the applicant company or its related companies. Support is up to 70% for local BD staff and 50% for foreign staff. Excluded incidentals include overtime, commission, bonus, allowances, equity-based pay, insurance, airfare, meals and accommodation.
Travel & Accommodation
Out-of-pocket costs — airfare, accommodation, transport and staff meals — are excluded across all three pillars, without exception.
Hardware, Equipment & In-house Work
Equipment, furniture, fixtures and capital goods do not qualify. Neither does in-house manpower, nor any scope of work your company already has the internal capability to perform — the MRA supports eligible third-party costs.
Retrospective Applications
An application is retrospective — and will be rejected — if, before you submit, you have paid a consultant or vendor (including a deposit), signed a contract, purchase order or employment contract, or started the project, including preliminary activities. The narrow exception is overseas trade fairs, where payment or an agreement may pre-date submission, provided the application is submitted no earlier than 6 months before the fair's official start date.
Domestic Activities & Singapore GST
Marketing activities targeting the Singapore domestic market do not qualify, and Singapore-imposed GST is excluded from every pillar. The grant is for building revenue in overseas markets.
Non-Business Office Costs
Only standard business office rental (lease agreements) for the BD staff's market presence is supported. Excluded office-related costs include: warehouse, factory and residential space, hotel rooms or suites and incidental costs such as equipment, furniture, fixtures, utilities and internet or telecommunication charges.
Two Ways a Market Can Qualify as "New"
Market newness is assessed at country level, on your sales history in that country.
No Prior Sales in the Country
You have never sold into the target country, or have no meaningful revenue there. This is the cleanest case — you are simply new to that market.
- Overseas trade fairs and marketing/PR campaigns
- Partner identification and in-person business matching
- Deploying a BD employee in-market, or outsourced BD services
- Overseas incorporation and import/export licensing
- IP registration in the target market
Sales Below S$100,000 for Three Years
You have some revenue in the country, but your annual sales there have not exceeded S$100,000 in any of the preceding three years. That still counts as new for MRA purposes.
- The same three pillars are available to you
- Prior MRA beneficiaries may apply again for the same market if they still meet the S$100,000 test
- If sales exceeded S$100,000 in any of the three years, the market no longer qualifies
- Watch this space: Enterprise Singapore has announced the removal of the new-market criterion from 2H 2026
- Be ready to evidence your sales history in that country
Key Benefits of the MRA Grant
Why this grant matters for Singapore businesses.
Significant Co-Funding
Up to 70% of eligible costs means you fund the remaining 30% — roughly S$43,000 of a S$143,000 programme that draws the full S$100,000 grant.
Broad but Defined Scope
From trade fairs and PR campaigns to in-market business matching, overseas incorporation and IP registration. The scope is broad, but it is a defined list — check your activity against the pillar detail before committing.
A Defined Window
The enhanced 70% support level runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, so you can plan a multi-market programme with a known support level — while noting that EDGE arrives in 2H 2026.
Multiple Markets
The S$100,000 cap is per new market, so you can develop several countries in parallel. Approval depends on demonstrating you have the financing and manpower to deliver each project.
Help Is Available
Enterprise Singapore publishes detailed guidance and runs SME Centres for free business advisory. Note that ESG does not designate "approved MRA consultants" — and your company, not a third party, must submit and manage the application on the BGP.
Competitive Edge
With reduced capital burden, you can invest more in strategy, talent and market positioning — the real drivers of success.
Quick Eligibility Check
Not every company qualifies. Here's what we look for:
Registered and operating in Singapore, with at least 30% equity held directly or indirectly by Singapore Citizens and/or PRs
SME status — group annual sales turnover not exceeding S$100 million or group employment size not exceeding 200
New to the target market — annual sales in that country have not exceeded S$100,000 in any of the preceding three years
Eligible activity — Overseas Market Promotion, Overseas Business Development, or Overseas Market Set-up, delivered by a third party with no conflict of interest