Accessing New Markets Initiative (ANMI)

Purpose and Program Overview

The Accessing New Markets Initiative (ANMI) is a $50 million program designed to help Australian businesses diversify into new export markets and capitalise on growth opportunities in established markets. The program is administered by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to strengthening the resilience of Australian exporters amid increasing global economic uncertainty.

ANMI is underpinned by coordinated, cohesive delivery across Commonwealth, state and territory governments, and industry. An adaptive delivery model enables the program to readily respond to market conditions and shifting trade flows. This whole-of-government approach ensures that support remains relevant, targeted, and effective across a broad range of export sectors.

ANMI will deliver enduring outcomes by supporting the diversification of Australia’s trade, building long-term resilience, and creating new growth opportunities for Australian businesses. It leverages the combined capabilities and experience of government and industry to support additional in-market trade advisors, enhanced events, and new strategic initiatives.

Key Grant Details

• Total funding pool: $50 million
• Program administrator: Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)
• Primary participants: National peak industry bodies (via the Trade Diversification Network)
• Application window: TDN applications closed 14 October 2025.
• Eligible entities: National peak industry bodies (not-for-profit), including consortia comprising sub-national peak bodies, Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), and state and territory governments
• Direct business access: Exporting businesses benefit indirectly through activities delivered by TDN members; direct grant applications by individual businesses are not available under ANMI
• Co-contribution: Funding prioritises activities where co-investment from industry can be leveraged. Some activities may involve participant costs such as travel and event registration.
• Geographic applicability: National — open to organisations with representation across Australia

Priority Sectors

To be eligible for the Trade Diversification Network, national peak industry bodies must represent members engaged in merchandise trade or technology. The Australian Government has identified the technology sector as a priority export growth sector, partly because the Australian technology sector requires international commercial expansion to grow.

The following sectors are formally represented within the TDN:

• Agrifood — including grains, meat, seafood, horticulture, beverages, and organic produce
• Consumer — including complementary medicines and fashion
• Creative — including screen and film
• Technology — including AgriTech, FinTech, and sports technology
• Health — including biotechnology and medical technology
• Green Economy / METS — including mining equipment, technology and services, and clean energy
• Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space
• Multi-sectoral — including broad industry groups and export councils
• First Nations — including Indigenous business suppliers

Funding Scope

ANMI does not operate as a direct grant to individual businesses. Instead, funding is allocated through a procurement-based model in collaboration with TDN members. Key aspects of the funding structure include:

• Total program investment: $50 million
• Allocation model: Adaptive and outcomes-focused; new market opportunities can be seized as they are identified and as new market threats and opportunities emerge.
• Funded activities: In-market trade advisors, trade missions and events, buyer engagement programs, export acceleration programs, sector insights and reports, and retail promotions
• Program phases:
  • Launch and stand-up phase: Establishment of operating models and governance structures
  • Core delivery phase: October 2025 to June 2027 — focused on managing national peak body relationships and delivering high-quality programs and services
  • Transition phase: From July 2027 — embedding key learnings into Austrade’s broader partnership delivery model to ensure lasting impact beyond the program’s life
• Procurement: All procured activities are subject to Commonwealth Procurement Rules and Guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria

ANMI support is channelled through national peak industry bodies participating in the Trade Diversification Network. Eligibility requirements include:

• The applicant must be a national peak industry body — a not-for-profit organisation whose primary purpose is to promote the interests of Australian businesses
• The organisation must not explicitly promote the interests of businesses in a specific sub-national location only (e.g., a single state/territory or local government area)
• Members must be engaged in merchandise trade or technology export activities
• Organisations may apply individually or as a consortium, which may include sub-national peak bodies, RDCs, and state and territory government entities
• National peak industry bodies that have members concentrated in specific geographic areas remain eligible, where industry activities are concentrated in a few locations
• Individual exporting businesses are not eligible to apply directly under ANMI; however, they may benefit from activities delivered through TDN members

Note: The TDN application window has now closed (14 October 2025). Businesses seeking direct export assistance should refer to Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) and Trade Services programs.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

ANMI funds activities designed to help Australian exporters access and grow in new and existing international markets. Funded activities delivered through TDN members may include:

• Joint trade missions and offshore trade events
• Business matching and buyer engagement programs
• Export acceleration programs
• Sector-specific market insights and reports
• Retail promotions in target markets
• Additional in-market trade advisors
• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) roadshows
• Strategic initiatives addressing sector-specific export barriers

While ANMI funding will cover most activity costs, some activities may incur costs such as travel, event participation, or networking activities borne by participating businesses or peak bodies.

Assessment Process

ANMI’s Trade Diversification Network membership was determined through a competitive selection process. Beyond the minimum conditions of participation, evaluation criteria focused on industry representation and export focus.

Ongoing funding allocation for activities is guided by the Prioritisation Framework, which applies five criteria:

1. Size and economic importance of the sector — larger sectors receive relatively more funding, all other things being equal
2. Extent of impact from global trade change — sectors more significantly affected by higher tariffs or trade restrictions receive relatively more funding
3. Opportunity to diversify and build resilience — sectors with greater potential to successfully build new markets, or strengthen resilience in existing ones, are prioritised
4. Capacity to successfully deliver — funding is prioritised where Austrade or the relevant peak body has a demonstrated capacity to deliver export diversification activities
5. Impact and value for money — sectors where government assistance is anticipated to have a larger proportionate impact, including by leveraging co-investment from industry, are prioritised

ANMI will be overseen by the ANMI Independent Assurance Panel (IAP), to provide public assurance that reasonable judgments have been made to ensure the equitable allocation of resources over the life of ANMI.

Recent Program Updates

• The Trade Diversification Network was publicly announced by the Minister for Trade and Tourism, the Hon. Don Farrell, on 13 January 2026, and was officially launched in Canberra at Parliament House on 4 March 2026.
• The TDN publicly welcomed 40 national peak industry bodies after the assessment panel reviewed their applications.
• ANMI funding has enabled expanded programs with larger delegations, additional business matching, and enhanced experiences at key international events, including Asia Fruit Logistica, Quantum World Congress, Perumin, China International Import Expo, Gulfood, World Health Expo, and others.
• The core delivery phase is now underway, running through to June 2027.

Application Tips

While the TDN application window has closed, organisations and businesses engaging with ANMI-supported programs or planning future applications to related Austrade initiatives should consider the following:

• Understand the program structure. ANMI operates through peak industry bodies, not direct business applicants. Businesses should identify their relevant TDN member to access support.
• Align with national export objectives. Proposals and activities should demonstrate clear alignment with Australia’s trade diversification agenda and the priority sectors listed in the Prioritisation Framework.
• Demonstrate industry-wide impact. Applications from peak bodies should articulate how activities will benefit the broader industry — not just direct members — and include evidence of national reach and representation.
• Engage early with Austrade. Contacting Austrade ahead of any procurement activity enables organisations to better understand program requirements and ensure proposals meet Commonwealth procurement standards.
• Leverage complementary programs. Individual businesses not accessing ANMI directly should consider the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) or Austrade Trade Services for direct export assistance.
• Document capability and outcomes. Whether applying for TDN participation or procurement activities, organisations should clearly articulate their capacity to deliver, their expected outcomes, and the value for money their activities represent.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist, like Pattens Group, for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant, and competitive application. Reach out to us today to connect with Australia’s top grant specialist, who has over 35 years of industry experience and a 100% success rate.

For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the official website of the Accessing New Markets Initiative and the Trade Diversification Network on the Austrade website and other associated Australian government websites. Enquiries can also be directed to Austrade at: anmi@austrade.gov.au