Indigenous businesses seek global opportunities

The Morrison Government is supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses expand access to markets, improve business potential and increase prosperity in a more connected global way.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt, said the Government will sponsor delegates to attend the World Indigenous Business Forum in Vancouver, Canada from 8 to 10 October.

"Indigenous Australians have been successfully trading domestically and internationally for generations and the Forum provides the opportunity to expand this further," Minister Wyatt said.

"Indigenous business leaders will connect with global trading partners and share experiences and ideas so Australian Indigenous companies can develop greater opportunities here and across the world."

"This year's Forum includes themes of women in business, socially responsible investing and engaging youth in business. Our delegates will bring the latest thinking on these issues back to Australia to improve their own businesses and to strengthen the Indigenous business sector more broadly."

"We will also contribute to the Rotorua Group, which consists of representatives from Australia, Canada, Chile, and New Zealand to support the economic development of Indigenous peoples through sharing experiences and best practice on government initiatives, policies, programs."

"Economic empowerment for Indigenous Australians is a priority of the Morrison Government. Thanks to initiatives like the Indigenous Procurement Policy and the Indigenous Business Sector Strategy, we have seen an exponential growth and capability in the sector."

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said to coincide with the Forum, Austrade and Supply Nation would lead an Indigenous trade mission to Canada to forge new business partnerships.

"Indigenous business activity in Australia continues to grow at a rapid rate and many Indigenous businesses have huge export potential," Minister Birmingham said.

"There are growing opportunities for Indigenous businesses to enter global supply chains, explore joint ventures and crack open new markets."

"With this first Australian Indigenous trade mission to Canada, the Morrison Government is supporting our Indigenous peoples in taking their expertise, products and services to global markets which will also help create more jobs here in Australia."

"This trade mission will be an excellent opportunity to deepen trade ties and cultural links between our two countries' Indigenous entrepreneurs, and help Indigenous businesses to go global."