Export Marketing & Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme:
The purpose is to assist South African exporters in establishing export markets for their products; to partially compensate exporters for costs incurred in respect of activities aimed at developing export markets for South African products and services; and to recruit new foreign direct investment into South Africa. The scheme is available to all enterprises registered with the Commissioner of Customs & Excise with special terms for SMME’s.

Financial Assistance for Export Promotion

Export Marketing & Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA)

In its continuing efforts to promote investment and entrepreneurship in South Africa, the national Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has launched the EMIA Scheme to partially compensate exporters for costs incurred in respect of activities aimed at developing export markets for South African products and services.

The scheme is primarily aimed at developing an export market in South Africa and at assisting South African exporters in accessing this market. By encouraging individual manufacturers and exporters, the dti hopes to recruit new foreign direct investment into South Africa, to the benefit of the greater business community.

Who qualifies for EMIA assistance?

• South African manufacturers, including SMMEs, PDIs and other businesses.
• South African export trading houses
• South African commission agents representing at least three SMMEs or PDI-owned businesses; and
• South African Export Councils, Industry Associations and Joint Action Groups

EMIA Schemes

1. National pavilions
   Assistance is provided to South African exporters to introduce South African products to foreign markets by participating in suitable foreign exhibitions. This scheme applies to exhibitions in which South Africa participates officially by means of a national pavilion. EMIA makes arrangements and bears the costs for space rental, construction and maintenance of stands, electricity and water charges as well as
   freight costs up to a maximum of three cubic meters or two tons per exhibitor.
2. Individual participation in exhibitions
   Assistance is granted to individual exporters to exhibit products at recognised international exhibitions abroad where EMIA does not provide for a national pavilion.
3. Outward selling trade missions
   Assistance is provided to South African exporters who wish to make contact with foreign buyers with a view to concluding new export orders.
4. Inward buying trade missions
   Assistance is provided to organisers of inward buying trade missions to enable prospective buyers to make contact with South African exporters to conclude export orders. The mission must be organised by a qualifying organisation, export council, TISA or the dti.
5. Primary market research
   Assistance is provided to partially compensate approved exporters for costs incurred in developing new export markets. (Available to dti Sector Desk Only)
6. Registration of patents, trademarks and quality marks
   Assistance is provided to exporters for costs incurred relating to registration of a product in a foreign market, such as patents, trademarks and quality marks. (e.g. ISO range)
7. Sector specific assistance
   Assistance to export councils, industry associations, and groups of enterprises (three or more) representing and aiming to develop a particular sector of industry, where objectives of proposed projects must be in line with TISA’s objectives of developing new export markets, broadening the export base and increasing the participation of BEEs and SMMEs.
8. Export readiness assessment
   Assistance is provided to exporters to determine their export readiness by means of a comprehensive export readiness assessment.
9. Exporter Training
   Assistance is provided to exporters to enhance their skills and knowledge of the export process, thereby enabling them to achieve competitiveness in the global market.

Assistance granted
Assistance is provided on the following basis:

• Travel (economy class)
• Daily subsistence
• Transport of samples for specific events
• Development of marketing materials for specific events
• Product registration, e.g. patent registration, quality marks
• Cost of setting up and/or managing an exhibition
• Cost of brochures
• Cost of registration and tutorial fees for a targeted or comprehensive exporter training programme
• Costs of conducting a comprehensive export readiness assessment Criteria for qualification
• Export/production performance of the applicant
• Export/marketing competence of the person visiting the foreign country
• Potential available/accessible production/export product capacity
• Extent of export marketing planning
• Type of product for export and local sales performance
• Level of labour absorption, location and technological requirements
• Industry in which the venture operates or is planned
• Membership of an export council (not compulsory but preferable)

Note: each component of the EMIA Scheme has additional defined criteria.

Applicants must supply information regarding:

• Their export performance and competence
• market and capacity planning within the industry in which the venture is planned; and
• their labour, location and technological requirements.

In order to apply for assistance through EMIA:

• An application form, obtainable through TISA or EMIA, must be submitted at least a month in advance
• the application must be complete and in compliance with all approval criteria; and
• applicants must be registered with the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. In this regard, documentation is obtainable through the Commissioner, tel (+27 12) 422 6934/5/6/7.

Contact Details
the dti Customer Contact Centre: 0861 843 384
Web address:www.dti.gov.za

Physical address:
the dti Campus
Utangamiri Building 2nd Floor
Building A: Ground Floor
77 Meintjies Street
Private Bag X 84
Sunnyside
Pretoria
0002

Postal address:
EMIA
Building A: Ground Floor
Private Bag X84
Pretoria
0001

FDC, can assist exporters in applying for EMIA assistance. If you require assistance please contact FDC at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it