Antwoord voor Bedrijven
Government information for entrepreneurs who have business interests in The Netherlands and abroad. Find your way in the applicable rules, regulations and incentives.

Prepare2start
The programme assists small and medium-sized businesses to enter foreign markets. Support in writing internationalisation plans and a contribution to start-up activities are available.

2xplore
2xplore provides grant financing of preinvestment and feasibility studies that potentially lead to substantial export of goods and services from the Netherlands.

Matchmaking Facility (MMF)
Companies in emerging economies are often on the lookout for reliable business partners abroad. The Matchmaking Facility (MMF) can help to put those companies in touch with companies in the Netherlands. More information is available here.

Private Sector Investment Programme (PSI)
The PSI programme provides 50% grant funding (subsidies) for investment projects together with a local partner that brings new economic development in targeted countries.

2g@there
A cluster of entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions that foresees huge chances in a foreign market can apply for partial funding via 2g@there. It needs to be obvious that the cluster cannot achieve a wanted position in a foreign market without support of the Dutch government.

ORIO (Facility for Infrastructure Development)
The programme provides grants to infrastructural works in developing countries. These works include development, implementation (construction and/or renovation) and operation & maintenance of public works.

Internationaal Innoveren
Setting up an international R&D project can be an effective way to share R&D costs and simultaneously gain access to know-how and new markets. The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs operates a subsidy scheme called ‘Internationaal Innoveren’ that encourages Dutch businesses to work together with local counterparts.

Partners for Water
Partners for Water is a programme that aims to strengthen the international position of the Dutch water sector by uniting forces (private sector, public sector, non-profit sector and knowledge institutes).

Facility Emerging Markets (FOM)
FOM provides medium and long-terms loans to a local subsidiary or a joint venture in which capital has been invested by a Dutch company. FOM can take the form of a loan, a guarantee, a subordinated loan, equity or a combination.

Access to Energy Fund (AEF)
The Fund provides long term financing in the form of equity or loans for private projects involved in the generation, transmission or distribution of energy in developing countries.

Capacity Development Program (CD)
The program provides both finance and assistance to improve management skills and technical know-how of clients of FMO, FMO’s partner organizations and officially recognized intermediaries.

Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF)
The Fund provides long term financing in the form of equity or loans for private projects in social and economic infrastructure in developing countries: energy production and distribution, telecommunications, water, transport, environmental and health and education.

Massif
The Fund offers local financial intermediaries in developing countries long-term debt and equity in local currency. Clients are for instance commercial banks, microfinance institutions, leasing companies, savings banks, consumer finance companies and mortgage banks.

FME Explorid for energy, medical technology, infrastructure, outsourcing & offshoring and agrifood. FME Explorid stands for marketexploration and chancesidentification. On behalf of a small cluster of companies, active in the medical-technological sector, a specialist of FME Business Development will travel for you to a new market. Purpose: Taylor made inventarisation of your opportunities and establish relevant contacts.

Sustainable economic growth in developing countries cannot be achieved if it does not benefit local societies. Industrious small and medium-sized firms play the most significant role in creating new employment. PUM therefore grants preference to local companies outside The Netherlands.

Netherlands Programme for the Institutional Strengthening of Post Secondary Education and Training Capacity (NPT). The NPT is a programme of South-North cooperation which helps developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacity for providing post-secondary education and training.

The EIB supports viable public and private sector projects in economic infrastructure, industry, agro-industry, mining, energy, tourism and services of benefit to the productive sector. The EIB finances up to a maximum of 50% of the project costs.

The objectives of the EPRD include the integration of the South African economy into the world economy. The focus is mainly on the development of the private sector, job creation, regional integration, institution-building and sectors such as healthcare.

The €50 billion available for this programme till 2013 is being spent on objectives grouped in the following categories: cooperation, ideas, people and capacities. The programme supports a wide range of participants: from universities, through public authorities to small enterprises and researchers in developing countries.

The Pro€Invest programme stimulates investment and technology by means of partnerships. It subsidizes capacity building. Third parties that can facilitate and/or execute this programme are also welcome to apply for this programme.

This European programme offers project assistance with regards to renewable, durable and affordable energy projects. Co-financing and setting up partnerships are possible within the Energy Facility programme.

This programme provides subsidies for developing and formulating trade politics and trade negociations and for the execution of trade politics and international trade agreements. European organizations that would like to start projects around these themes are welcome to apply.

This successor of the first ESIPP programme will hopefully be released in 2010. The ESIPP2 programme will, like its predecessor, stimulate investment and technology between African and European enterprises.

EUREKA’s Eurostars Programme
The programme is raising the productivity and competitiveness of European businesses through technology. Boosting national economies on the international market and strengthening the basis for sustainable prosperity and employment is the goal.

South African government objectives in providing incentives usually include the following:

- To raise fixed investment in industries
- Restructure domestic industry towards international competitiveness
- Promote sustainability of recipient projects
- Create wealth, generate employment
- Reduce investment costs for small and medium investors

Khula Credit Guarantee
Promote SMMEs and RFI through the provision of guarantees for the securing of bank loans. Provides maximum guarantee of R600 000 over 3years for SMMEs. Firm must have net asset value of at least R2 million and must meet bank’s normal lending requirements.

Khula Equity Fund
Promotion of SMMEs with potential for growth. Funding of joint ventures and buyouts. Available to SMMEs with min. value of R500 000. Proof of viability required.

Industrial Development Zones
Promote manufacturing and encourage and improve South African exports. Excellent infrastructure and streamlined, efficient customs in importation of goods/raw materials used for manufacturing.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Programme (SMEDP)
To encourage investment of up to R100 million in small and medium SA companies. Two year cash incentive on qualifying assets and 3rd year if labour requirement is met.

Strategic Investment Projects (SIP)
Encourage investment in important industrial sectors. A capital allowance of 50% or 100% of the cost of productive assets to be used within 3 years. Applicable to enterprises investing in projects that exceed R50 million.

Technology for Women in Business (TWIB)
Enhancing accessibility of technology to women in business (esp SMMEs). Identification of specific technological needs of women in business.

The National Industrial Participation Programme
Promote the development of South African industry. Available to government suppliers with imported content equal to or over million with commitment to further involvement in community.

Tourism schemes
Development of tourism especially eco-tourism. Capital for development of new or existing tourism facilities.

Venture Capital Scheme
To promote product innovation. Capital for products with good growth potential. Package structured in terms of risk and growth potential.

Accelerated Depreciation Allowance
Promote acquisition of new assets in manufacturing sector. Allowance to write off manufacturing asset over 4 years. +40% for cost in first year and + 20% for next 3. Assets acquired after 1 March 2002.

International Tourism Marketing Assistance Scheme
To promote the marketing of the South African tourism industry. Partial compensation of businesses for predetermined costs incurred in promotion of products related to tourism.

Partnership in Industrial Innovation
Stimulate industrial research and innovation. Reimbursive grant for up to 50% of development cost of product. Amount based on commercial success of product.

Research and Development
Promote research and innovation. Tax deduction for operating costs related to R&D of 25% of the cost of capital expenditure approved by CSIR.

Support Programme for Industrial Innovation
To encourage development of local innovation. Grant of 50% max R.1.5 million/project) of actual direct cost of product development.

Tax Threshold for Small Businesses
Encourage development of SMMEs. SMMEs with annual turnover of less than R3 million eligible for 15% graduated tax rate with taxable income of R150000.

Techno-Industry Development Finance
Development and expansion of IT intensive businesses. Equity or loan finance for companies with minimum financing requirement of R1 million for expansion or new ventures.

Tourism Development Finance
Development and expansion of tourism. Minimum finance requirement of R1 million. Provision of medium-term finance (loan, equity) for upgrading or renovation of tourist facilities.

Employee Housing Allowance
South African Industrial Development Corporation. Tax deduction equal to 50% of the cost of erecting houses available limited to R6000 per house.

Orchards Schemes
Encourage job creation in the agricultural sector. Low interest loans granted to those establishing orchards and thus creating jobs.

Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)
The AECF (the “fund”) is a competition, open only to for-profit private companies which have, or intend to, start business enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa in the field of agriculture, agri-business, rural financial services and media and information services to these sectors.

GEF Small Grants Programme
The GEF is a financial mechanism structured as a trust fund that operates in collaboration and partnership with the three implementing agencies (UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank). Today the GEF is the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment. Since 1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing .6 billion in grants and leveraging .1 billion in co-financing for over 2,400 projects in more than 165 countries.

Business Partners International
Business Partners Limited is South Africa’s leading specialist financing company for small and medium enterprises. It provides a full-service offering for entrepreneurs, which includes customised investment solutions, property broking, property management, technical assistance, mentorship, consulting and ongoing business support through industry-specific units. Integrated business solutions are individually structured to meet the specific needs of a wide range of entrepreneurs, from single-owner private practices to multi-owner management buy-outs or buy-ins.