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TradeStart export assistance

Export assistance for small to medium sized enterprises.

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What is TradeStart?

TradeStart is a national network of export assistance offices, partnerships between Austrade and a range of local private and public sector organisations throughout Australia. These TradeStart Partners employ Export Advisors who are well versed in the needs of exporters and potential exporters and skilled in matters of international trade.

TradeStart was established in its original form in July 1998. In the 2002-03 budget the government allocated $21.5 million over four years to continue and expand the program and further extended the program in the 2006-07 budget with $23.3 million over four years to 2010-11.

The prime objectives of the program are to:

  • Assist small and medium sized enterprises to commence exporting
  • Convert irregular exporters to sustainable export activity
  • Provide assistance to established exporters to expand their markets.

Since 2002 the TradeStart Network has helped more than 2,000 businesses achieve export success worth more than $750 million. TradeStart has built export awareness at the regional level and actively encouraged SME’s to get into export.

What does the TradeStart Program offer businesses?

The TradeStart Program contains elements of coaching and action learning; with the goal being to assist each business to achieve long-term success in their first and subsequent export markets.

The TradeStart Program:

  • Promotes exporting, international business and the Australian Government’s trade agenda
  • Assists potential exporters to become established exporters
  • Assists new and irregular exporters
  • Assists established exporters to increase export sales and to enter new markets
  • Works co-operatively with other relevant agencies to maximise the export success of TradeStart clients
  • Represents Austrade and provides access to the full range of its services for both existing and potential Austrade clients.

There is also access to assistance from Austrade’s 160 overseas offices.

Is my company / organisation eligible for the TradeStart Program?

To be eligible, your business must have:

  • A current ABN
  • Australia as its main place of business
  • Not completed TradeStart, the former Export Access program, or received Austrade's new exporter services during the last three years (some exemptions apply)
  • No recurrent export revenue in the same market over the last three years
  • Most importantly, be willing to commit the time and resources to the program and possibly undertake overseas market visits at your own cost.

Support for the mining and oil / gas equipment and services industry

The Department of Commerce is Austrade’s partner in delivering the TradeStart Program to the mining and oil / gas equipment and services industry in Western Australia.

The department can assist with providing access to Austrade's global network of industry specialists and identifying global opportunities.

For more information about the program please contact our TradeStart Export Advisor.

For general information on the mining and oil / gas equipment and services industry and the role of the department, please contact us. 

Support for the renewable energy and clean technologies industry

The Department of Commerce is Austrade’s partner in delivering the TradeStart Program to the renewable energy and clean technologies industry in Western Australia.

The department can assist with providing access to Austrade's global network of industry specialists and identifying global opportunities.

For more information about the program please contact our TradeStart Export Advisor.

For general information on the renewable energy and clean technologies industry and the role of the department, please contact us. 

Support for other industries

A list of regional contacts in Western Australia is available on Austrade’s website.

You can also contact the Small Business Development Corporation’s Small Business Exporters Network.

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