Overseas Business Development Visit Support
Application Guidelines
Before completing the application for funding form please read through guidelines below
The aim of the Overseas Business Development Visit Support is to provide support and
assistance to companies to carry out international trade development activities and projects.
You should provide evidence in your application that your activities form part of a strategic plan
to develop your business.
Applications will only be considered from companies that: have never exported,
 or have been exporting for less than 2 years,
 or are targeting export markets that are new to the company,
 or new business in an existing market.
This support is not to support your current export activity, such as meeting existing agents or
clients.
The Overseas Business Development Visit Support is discretionary and every application is
judged on its own merits and the quality of the information that is provided.
Retrospective applications will not be considered for reimbursement. A retrospective application
is a project in relation to which activity (which includes expenditure or commitment) has
commenced prior to either the application being submitted or approval being granted (offer letter
issued). This means that any expenditure and/or any activity associated with the project that
pre dates either the initial application or the offer letter will mean that your application is refused
or, if approval has already been given, that the entire application will be considered
retrospective and that all of the Overseas Business Development Visit support will be ineligible
and therefore withheld on that basis. The Welsh Government reserves the right to decide
whether an application is retrospective.
No support will be paid for VAT, insurance, domestic (UK) travel and accommodation, petrol
overseas, and will only be paid for economy travel. All costs in the application will be tested to
ensure that they are reasonable and provide value for money.
The maximum amount payable by the Welsh Government is 50% of the total eligible costs of a
project up to a maximum of £10,000. E.g. for a project that costs a total of £23,000, the Welsh
Government support will be capped at £10,000.
The Overseas Business Development Visit Support can only support activities that cannot be
supported by other sources of public money (e.g. trade missions, delegations to exhibitions).
You should investigate alternative sources of funding prior to making your application, and detail
these in your supporting documentation.
Applicants should note that the assistance provided by this funding constitutes de minimus state
aid as defined by the European Commission. Awards of de minimus aid, from all public
sources, must not exceed 200,000 euros within any 3-year fiscal period. Please ensure that
your Company has not received de minimus state aid of more than 200,000 euros within the 3year fiscal period before the date of this application. If the company exceeds the limit then they
are responsible for any action as a result, including repayment of the support they have
received
Support under this programme is subject to Welsh Government approval and budget availability
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Cost Eligibility
The following costs are eligible for support:
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International flights or ferry costs (economy only)
Accommodation on standard B&B basis only
Exhibition space cost
Shipment of stand & equipment for exhibitions
Exhibition registration fees
If you are visiting a market or an event/exhibition but not exhibiting then one person can
be supported, however if you are exhibiting at an event/exhibition then two people can be
supported.
Please note that the costs of UK travel and accommodation cannot be subsidised, nor can
attendance at UK events/ exhibitions.
After the business development visit
All activity as detailed in the project must be completed prior to submitting a claim. Interim
payments for partially completed projects will under no circumstance be considered. If a claim is
submitted without all elements of the project being completed, an explanation must be provided.
In order to process a claim, we will require a report detailing the outcome of the project – this
should focus on successes and experience gained. If new business has been secured, profit
benefit received and/or jobs have been safeguarded/created you will be required to complete a
‘business secured form’
You will be required to submit original invoices / receipts as proof of expenditure. You will also
need to provide proof of payment from your account. Please note electronic bank statements
cannot be accepted and originals must be provided.
Cash payments cannot be reimbursed for any expenditure incurred for the project.
Claims must be submitted within 4 weeks of completion of the project date set out in your
application.
The Welsh Government will contact you 6 and 12 months after your claim has been paid to
ensure that we capture any further outputs and to provide assistance where applicable. Again
any further new business secured, profit benefit received or jobs have been
safeguarded/created will require completion of a ‘business secured form’
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