MRA: Overseas Market Promotion

How Much Funding Can You Get?

• Up to 70% of eligible costs for SMEs (increased from 50% under Budget 2026), capped at S$20,000 per market
• Applies to overseas marketing/PR campaigns and international trade fair participation under the MRA grant

Budget 2026 Update: Support increased from 50% to 70% for SMEs (1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029). The “new market” requirement will be removed in 2H 2026. See MRA Budget 2026 Changes for details.

What Is This Grant About?

• Overseas Market Promotion (OMP) helps Singapore companies build awareness and capture leads when entering a “new market” (≤ S$100,000 sales in the last three years)
• It sits alongside Overseas Business Development and Overseas Market Set-up in the MRA grant

Supported Activities

• Marketing and PR campaigns: In-store activations, roadshows, pop-ups, fashion shows, social media marketing, and media coverage (online/offline).
• International trade fairs (physical or virtual): Exhibit products/services to international trade visitors; booth support is capped at 36 sqm.

Key Requirements and Pitfalls

• Trade fair type: Must be bona fide international trade fairs with trade visitors; purely B2C consumer fairs are excluded.
• Booth visibility: Your company or represented brand name must be clearly displayed on the booth and exhibitor listing.
• LEAD events: If a tradeshow is already LEAD-supported via the Singapore National Pavilion, you cannot seek MRA funding instead (even if you want a different booth or hall).
• Application timing: Trade fairs are the only exception to the “no retrospective applications” rule—you may pay deposits or sign contracts first, but submit the MRA application within 6 months of the fair’s start date.
• Booth sharing: Co-sharing or co-location of booths by multiple exhibitors is not supported.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for MRA Overseas Market Promotion, your company must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Business entity is registered and operating in Singapore
• At least 30% local equity held directly or indirectly by Singaporean(s) and/or Singapore PR(s), determined by the ultimate individual ownership
• Group Annual Sales Turnover not exceeding S$100 million OR a Group employment size not exceeding 200 employees
• Target market must be new to your business (≤ S$100,000 in sales in preceding 3 years)
• Planning marketing/PR or trade fair efforts that need third-party support or booth investments overseas

How To Apply?

1. Choose the activity: Decide whether you’re applying for a marketing/PR campaign or a specific trade fair in a single new market.
2. Check eligibility: Confirm the market qualifies as “new,” you meet MRA baselines, and the trade fair (if any) is international and not LEAD-supported.
3. Gather documents: Financial statements (3 years or to-date management accounts), consultant/vendor proposals with scope and itemised costs, and vendor credentials.
4. Plan the campaign/fair: Ensure booth size ≤ 36 sqm, brand name is displayed, and costs fall within the S$20,000 cap.
5. Submit on the Business Grants Portal (BGP): Log in with Corppass, complete the MRA-OMP application, upload documents, and indicate milestones/budgets. Need help setting up Corppass? See our Corppass Setup Guide.
6. Respond and execute: EnterpriseSG may seek clarifications; once approved, run the campaign/fair and retain invoices, contracts, and proof of booth participation.

Required Documents

• Company financial statements (audited or management accounts signed by an authorised officer; young companies may provide endorsed management accounts).
• Consultant/vendor proposals or quotations showing scope, deliverables, and cost breakdowns addressed to the registered ACRA name.
• Consultant credentials/testimonials (not needed for EnterpriseSG’s accredited FTA/Trade Compliance consultants).

Expenses Not Supported

• GST and staff out-of-pocket costs (airfare, accommodation, transport, meals).
• Publicity meant to raise capital/investments.
• B2C-only fairs and booths shared among multiple exhibitors.

Where To Apply?

• Submit applications and claims through the Business Grants Portal using Corppass.
• Monitor status, submit change requests (e.g., booth updates), and correspond with EnterpriseSG via the same portal.

Worked Example

Scenario: Your consumer goods company promotes products at a Southeast Asian trade fair.

Note: Market Promotion pillar is capped at S$20,000. Since S$19,600 is within the cap, the full 70% applies. For projects exceeding S$28,571 (where 70% = S$20,000), funding is capped at S$20,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MRA Overseas Market Promotion?

MRA Overseas Market Promotion helps Singapore SMEs build brand awareness and capture leads in new overseas markets. It covers marketing campaigns, PR activities, and international trade fair participation under the Market Readiness Assistance grant.

How much funding can I get for overseas marketing?

Up to 70% of eligible costs (increased from 50% under Budget 2026), capped at S$20,000 per new market. The “new market” requirement will be removed in 2H 2026.

Can I apply for MRA after paying a trade fair deposit?

Yes. Trade fairs are the only exception to the “no retrospective applications” rule. You may sign contracts and pay deposits before submitting, but the MRA application must be filed within 6 months of the trade fair’s start date.

Are B2C consumer fairs eligible for MRA funding?

No. Only bona fide international trade fairs with trade visitors qualify. Purely B2C consumer fairs and co-shared booths are excluded from MRA Overseas Market Promotion support.

What if the trade fair is already LEAD-supported?

If a trade fair is supported via the Singapore National Pavilion under the LEAD programme, you cannot apply for MRA funding for the same event — even if you want a separate booth in a different hall.

Related Information

• Grant Pitfalls Guide - Common pitfalls to avoid when applying for MRA-OMP
• Grants Directory - Browse all available Singapore government grants
• MRA vs EDG: How to Choose? - Use this matrix to choose between MRA-OMP, MRA-OBD, MRA Set-up, and EDG
• Overseas Expansion Grants Guide - Detailed eligibility, checklists, and pitfalls for overseas expansion
• Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) - Main Guide - Overview, eligibility, and general application information
• MRA: Overseas Business Development - Business matching and market presence
• MRA: Overseas Market Set-up - IP registration and market entry
• Corppass Setup Guide - Step-by-step guide to set up Corppass for BGP access

References

• Market Readiness Assistance Grant - Enterprise Singapore - Official MRA page with current funding information

• MRA Supportable Activities (PDF) - Detailed guide on eligible activities and requirements

• MRA FAQ - Enterprise Singapore - Frequently asked questions about MRA

• LEAD Supported Trade Fairs - List of LEAD-supported tradeshows

• Business Grants Portal - Apply for MRA and track your application status

• Singapore Grants Glossary — key terms and definitions