Frequently Asked Questions

The Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant is a government-funded scheme managed by Enterprise Singapore. It's designed to help Singapore companies expand into overseas markets by co-funding eligible business development activities. Think of it as the government saying, "We believe in your global ambitions, so we'll help you pay for it!"

The best part? As of April 2026, SMEs can get up to 70% of eligible costs funded. That means you only need to fund 30% yourself — a massive reduction in financial risk when exploring new markets.

To qualify for the MRA Grant, your company must meet these core requirements:

• Singapore-registered: Your company must be registered in Singapore
• Local equity: At least 30% of the company must be held by Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents
• SME status: Annual group turnover under S$100 million OR fewer than 200 employees (for the 70% support tier)
• New market or low sales: Either entering a new market OR having sales under S$100K in that market for each of the past 3 years
• Eligible activity: The project must fall into overseas promotion, business development, or market setup categories

Non-SMEs can also apply, but they'll get up to 50% support instead of 70%. Check with Enterprise Singapore if you're unsure about your status — they're usually helpful!

The maximum grant depends on the category of your project:

• Overseas Market Promotion: S$20,000 maximum (70% for SMEs)
• Business Development: S$50,000 maximum (70% for SMEs)
• Overseas Market Setup: S$30,000 maximum (70% for SMEs)

So if you do a Business Development project costing S$100,000 as an SME, you'd get S$50,000 (the cap) from the grant, and you'd need to fund the other S$50,000 yourself. The 70% support applies to the capped amount, not unlimited amounts — nothing's truly unlimited, right?

Overseas Market Promotion (up to S$20,000):

• Trade fairs, exhibitions, and business conferences
• Digital advertising and online marketing campaigns
• PR and media coverage in target markets
• Pop-up stores and brand activation events
• Product showcase and demonstration events

Business Development (up to S$50,000):

• Market research and feasibility studies
• Business matching with potential distributors and partners
• Joint venture and partnership exploration
• Digital commerce platform development
• Sales team recruitment and training

Overseas Market Setup (up to S$30,000):

• Company registration and legal incorporation
• Intellectual property protection and trademark registration
• Tax and regulatory compliance consultation
• Office space setup and initial infrastructure
• Banking and legal structuring

The 70% support means the government will fund up to 70% of your eligible project costs. You're responsible for the remaining 30%. Here's how it works:

Example: You want to attend a trade fair in Indonesia for S$25,000.

• Eligible cost: S$25,000
• Maximum grant for Promotion: S$20,000 (capped)
• Government funds: S$20,000 × 70% = S$14,000
• Your co-funding: S$25,000 - S$14,000 = S$11,000

The capped amounts get 70% support, meaning you need to find the remaining 30% from your own pocket or other funding sources. Non-SMEs get 50% instead, so they need to cover 50% themselves.

Yes! One of the best features of the MRA Grant is that you're not limited to one market. You can apply for funding in multiple countries simultaneously or sequentially.

You can have multiple grant projects running in different markets, as long as each project meets the eligibility criteria. This is perfect if you're a ambitious company wanting to expand across Southeast Asia or other regions.

Just keep in mind that each project needs to be separately approved and tracked. Your approved consultant (like Firefish!) can help you manage multiple applications efficiently.

Not necessarily, but it's recommended. For certain activities, particularly consultancy services and specialized market research, Enterprise Singapore has a list of pre-approved vendors. Using them can speed up the approval process.

However, you have flexibility. You can use other vendors as long as they meet the requirements and their costs are reasonable and well-documented. For example, you could hire your own market research team or use a vendor of your choice for event participation.

The key is transparency: provide proper quotes, invoices, and proof of work done. Keep everything documented and legitimate. Enterprise Singapore will review all expenses carefully.

This is a great question and it's nuanced. Generally, you cannot use the same activity to get funded under multiple grants. You can't claim S$20,000 for a trade fair under both MRA and EDG — that would be double-dipping.

However, you can run separate, distinct projects under different grants. For example:

• Use MRA Grant for overseas market research (Business Development)
• Use EDG for digital transformation to support that market entry

The activities must be separate and clearly defined. This is where having an expert consultant (that's us!) really helps. We can advise which grant is best for each activity and ensure you're not creating issues with compliance.

Always declare if you're receiving other government support for related projects — transparency keeps you out of trouble!

To apply for the MRA Grant, you'll typically need:

• Company documents: ACRA registration, articles of association, proof of local equity ownership
• Financial documents: Latest audited financial statements (to prove SME status)
• Project details: Clear project description, timeline, and objectives
• Cost breakdown: Detailed quotes from vendors, expected expenses with justification
• Market information: Research on the target market, competitive analysis, and why you're entering
• Vendor details: Information about approved vendors (if using them) or alternative service providers
• Ownership details: Information on shareholders and beneficial owners

The exact requirements can vary based on your project type and company profile. An approved consultant can help you prepare a complete application package and avoid the dreaded "rejected due to incomplete submission" scenario.

The approval timeline typically looks like this:

• Application submission: After you've submitted a complete application
• Initial review: 2-4 weeks for Enterprise Singapore to review your application
• Clarification requests: They may ask for additional information (can add 1-2 weeks)
• Approval decision: Usually 4-8 weeks total from submission to approval letter

The timeline depends heavily on how complete your application is and how busy Enterprise Singapore is at the time. Incomplete applications get sent back for revision, which adds time. Using an approved consultant from the start can significantly speed things up — we know exactly what they're looking for.

Pro tip: Start the application process well before you want to launch your overseas activities. Don't wait until you've already booked the trade fair!

If your application is rejected, don't panic! It's not the end of the road. Here's what typically happens:

• Rejection letter: Enterprise Singapore will explain why your application was rejected
• Common reasons: Ineligible activity, insufficient SME status, inadequate market justification, or company not meeting ownership requirements
• Reapplication: You can address the issues and reapply. Sometimes a simple fix (like clarifying a point) is all that's needed
• Escalation: You can request a review or meeting with Enterprise Singapore to discuss

The good news? Most rejections are fixable. Working with an approved consultant from the beginning reduces rejection risk dramatically because we know what works and what doesn't. We can position your project to meet all the criteria from day one.

If rejected, contact us or Enterprise Singapore to understand exactly what went wrong — then fix it and try again!

Yes, the MRA Grant works on a reimbursement basis. You need to complete the project and provide proof of expenses before you get paid. Here's how it works:

• You fund first: You pay for the activities upfront from your own resources
• Project execution: You complete the market development activities
• Submit claim: After completion, you submit invoices, proof of payment, and evidence of work done
• Verification: Enterprise Singapore reviews and approves your claim (usually 4-8 weeks)
• Reimbursement: They transfer the approved grant amount to your company account

This means you need enough cash flow to fund the project initially. For larger projects, this can be significant. Plan ahead and ensure your company can handle the upfront costs. Some companies arrange co-funding or financing to bridge this gap.

The positive side? Once approved, you'll definitely get the money back if your expenses are legitimate and documented properly.

Here are the major exclusions that often surprise people:

• Staff salaries: Regular employee wages and benefits don't qualify
• Travel costs: Personal flights, hotels, and meals are generally not covered
• Equipment & machinery: Physical goods and capital assets aren't eligible
• Inventory: Stock purchases and product inventory don't qualify
• Domestic activities: Work done in Singapore isn't covered — this is for overseas expansion only
• Retrospective claims: You must apply before spending the money
• Excess costs: If your office space or expenses seem unreasonable for the project, they may be disallowed
• Advertising in Singapore: You can't fund ads promoting your company in Singapore via MRA

The core principle is simple: the grant funds business development activities in overseas markets, not your day-to-day operational costs or domestic activities. Keep this in mind when planning your project budget!

The grant claim process is straightforward but requires meticulous documentation:

• Gather all documents: Original invoices, receipts, payment proofs, and bank statements showing expenses
• Evidence of work: Photos, reports, attendance certificates from trade fairs, or deliverables from consultants
• Completion report: Summarize what was accomplished and how it supports your market expansion goals
• Submit claim form: Fill out Enterprise Singapore's grant claim form with all details
• Processing: Enterprise Singapore reviews the claim (typically 4-8 weeks)
• Approval & payment: They approve the claim and transfer funds to your company bank account

Critical documentation tips:

• Keep ALL original invoices and receipts — photocopies won't cut it for large amounts
• Ensure invoices are in your company name or clearly show the expense is yours
• Keep bank statements showing payment for audit trail
• Take photos/videos during the activities (trade fair booth, meeting with partners, etc.)
• Get written confirmation from vendors about what was delivered

An approved consultant can help you prepare a professional claim package that maximizes approval chances and minimizes back-and-forth with Enterprise Singapore. It's tedious work, but crucial for getting your money back!

Great question! Here are your options:

• Check our website: Visit the other pages like "How to Apply" and "Check Eligibility" for more detailed information
• Contact Firefish: Reach out to us directly — we're approved MRA consultants and we love answering questions! Our team specializes in helping SMEs navigate the grant.
• Contact Enterprise Singapore: Visit Enterprise Singapore's official MRA page for official guidance
• Book a consultation: We offer free initial consultations to discuss your specific situation and expansion plans

The MRA Grant can be complex, but with expert guidance, it becomes straightforward. Don't hesitate to reach out — we've helped dozens of Singapore SMEs successfully secure and deploy their MRA grants. Your expansion goals are our expertise!