Upcoming Grant and Program Opportunities
Southeast Asia FTA Modernisation Grant Program
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) invites public submissions on issues relevant to the modernisation of Australia's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Southeast Asian trading partners. DFAT has commenced a comprehensive review of Australia's bilateral and regional Southeast Asian FTAs. We are particularly interested in views on how to better engage First Nations traders in our future FTAs.
The Australian Government has opened a $1.75 million grant program to support the modernisation of Australia's Southeast Asian FTAS. The Southeast Asia FTAs Modernisation Grant Program will support Australian industry bodies and representative organisations undertake research and analysis on identifying future trade and investment opportunities and priorities in the region. Applications for the grant are now open and will close on Monday 24 March 2025. Information about the terms of reference for the review, making submissions and the grant program can be found at Southeast Asian Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) upgrade and modernisation agenda.
Get involved with World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
Australia will embed First Nations perspectives throughout our participation at World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai – celebrating our modern diversity and showcasing the rich heritage of First Nations people through our cultural and business programs. We are partnering with Māori organisation Te Aratini to co-host Indigenous Peoples Week, which will feature a program of cultural and business engagement events from 4-10 August.
Are you a non-for-profit organisation wanting to get involved at the Australia Pavilion?
Expressions of Interest are now open for our new Event Curator Program. You will have the exciting opportunity to curate your own event for Australia at the Osaka Expo.
Engaging with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an FTA between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Canada chaired the CPTPP in 2024 with the Vancouver Statement supporting greater Indigenous Peoples' trade and investment participation and collaboration between the Members.
On 1 January 2025, Australia assumed the role of Chair of CPTPP, and is committed to enhancing trade and economic opportunities for our Australian stakeholders and all CPTPP members, ensuring the agreement remains modern, effective, and responsive to global challenges.
Australia's theme for this year is Delivering Sustainable Trade and Resilient Growth and will focus on three overarching priorities:
- Increasing trade: leveraging the "gold standard" of the Agreement to further boost trade between members, bringing economic gains to our communities.
- Facilitating trade: we aim to make it easier for members to trade with each other by improving processes.
- Spreading the benefits of trade: Australia is committed to ensuring that CPTPP supports inclusive and sustainable trade practices.
The Membership will finalise its General Review – Terms of Reference endorsed in 2023 – with the aim to strengthen the CPTPP and ensure it remains the "gold standard" of trade agreements. This aims to ensure the Agreement considers trade outcomes that support gender equality, the economic empowerment of Indigenous Peoples and sustainable environmental practices – which are priority areas for the Australian Government.
This year presents a key opportunity to drive meaningful outcomes that strengthen regional economic integration, increase trade and support sustainable and inclusive trade across the CPTPP membership.
If you would like to get in touch regarding CPTPP, the General Review or outcomes that could support the economic empowerment of Indigenous Peoples please contact DFAT's First Nations Trade Unit via firstnationstrade@dfat.gov.au with CPTPP@dfat.gov.au in copy.
Recent News
Pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group meeting
The inaugural meeting of the pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group (pilot Advisory Group) took place on the lands of the Ngunnawal people at RG Casey Building in Canberra on 12 February 2025.
The meeting affirmed the Advisory Group's aim as facilitating a partnership between First Nations Australians and the Australian Government, with a view to amplifying and embedding First Nations perspectives across Australia's international trade and investment policies. It would address such issues as: trade negotiations; trade advocacy and promotion; pathways to grow First Nations export capabilities; and ensuring the benefits of Australia's trade and investment efforts are shared across First Nations business and communities.
Investing in Australia: Engaging our First Nations People
DFAT has created a webpage to act as a guide for potential investors on engaging with First Nations Australians. Greater First Nations participation in Australia's foreign investment activities will be transformative, supporting intergenerational wealth creation for First Nations people. The page contains resources, case studies and contacts to help inform foreign investors on the benefits of engaging with community.
A New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India
The Australian Government has launched A New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India, to maximise Australia's trade opportunities, benefit our businesses and consumers, secure our supply chains, and create jobs. India's economy is on track to be the world's third largest by 2030, and Australia is working to realise the enormous trade and investment opportunities that come with this.
The Roadmap sets out a pathway to focus our ongoing efforts, including to boost two-way investment, and work with Indian-Australian communities and businesses. It identifies four 'superhighways of growth' in sectors where we have natural strengths and a competitive edge: clean energy, education and skills, agribusiness, and tourism.
The roadmap contains a number of outcomes for First Nations people including a dedicated chapter on First Nations cooperation with priority sectors in this agreement being tourism, clean energy and creative industries. Further initiatives include the Centre for Australia-India Relations' Maitri ('friendship') Grants program to foster cultural collaborations between Australia and India, including with First Nations communities, as well as a dedicated First Nations Business Mission to India for the first time later in 2025.
What is coming up?
Climate Investor Forum: Connecting Capital to Scale Climate Solutions
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is sponsoring the Climate Investor Forum on 19 March in Melbourne.
The event will bring together over 500 decision makers who are at the forefront of investing in and deploying climate solutions at scale.
Alongside speakers including Nicholas Moore AO and Austrade's Acting Deputy CEO Trade and Investment Peter Horn, ACEN Australia and Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) will present on one of Australia's largest Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives in the Energy Transition showcase.
Register to attend the Forum to learn more about this partnership and hear from other climate leaders.
Workshop – A Path to Net Zero: Impacts of emissions in your supply chain
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources is hosting a workshop in Ballina NSW on Thursday 27 March 2025. The workshop aims to assist business owners in Northern NSW who are looking to make their supply chains more efficient and sustainable, as well as businesses who are striving to be more competitive in the Net Zero environment.
Join this workshop to:
- Help enhance your bottom line and make your business more competitive.
- Learn about Net Zero emission scopes and targets of your larger suppliers and government agencies.
- Understand supply chain impacts, challenges, and how to mitigate potential commercial risks.
- Identify sustainability measures, decarbonisation, and ESG strategy opportunities.
- Prepare for data collection and carbon footprint measures.
What is included?
This practical workshop will include access to an ESG expert; local business support providers; examples of business tools and support initiatives; interactive discussion and networking opportunities. You will leave with a deeper understanding of how to navigate the pathway to Net Zero, and make your business more competitive.