Export Finance Australia (EFA) supports export, trade and overseas infrastructure development that benefits Australia.
Types of finance
EFA provides loans, bonds, guarantees, insurance and in some cases, equity participation.
The support is delivered under one of the following accounts:
- Commercial Account – where EFA carries all risks, retains all margins and fees and bears all losses.
- National Interest Account - administered by the EFA on behalf of the government. Under this account, the Minister for Trade and Tourism can direct EFA to support transactions that are in the national interest. The Commonwealth bears all risks and losses under the NIA.
Background
The agency was established on 1 November 1991 under the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1991 (EFIC Act).
It operates as a corporate Commonwealth entity and specialist direct investment vehicle.
The Act sets out its functions and duties.
Governance
The Minister for Trade and Tourism and the Minister for Finance are responsible for EFA under the EFIC Act.
It is governed by a board. Read more on the EFA website.
Statement of expectations
The Minister for Trade and Tourism and the Minister for Finance provide guidance on how the agency should operate through a statement of expectations (SoE). EFA responds with a statement of intent (SoI).
An updated SoE and corresponding SoI were released in March 2025. The SoE includes references to the Future Made in Australia agenda and the following priorities:
- Supporting export-led growth that shares the benefits of trade among the community.
- Contributing to Australia's net zero transformation and the ambition to become a renewable energy superpower.
- Supporting quality infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific and deepening trade and economic ties.
- Supporting a Future Made in Australia including adminsitering the Domestic National Interest Account.
The SoE sets out the government's expectations for how EFA should manage and administer the NIA, both for domestic and export-focused projects.
A service level agreement has been set up for the NIA between the EFA, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Finance.
Read the SoE and SoI on the EFA website.
More information
Read more about the agency and funding opportunities on the EFA website.
For questions about policy matters, contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
