Welcome to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's monthly First Nations Trade and Investment Bulletin – October 2024’s ‘Indigenous Business Month’ edition! This month celebrates Indigenous Business Month by showcasing two First Nations businesses who are excelling overseas, as well as sharing some new opportunities for First Nations businesses to engage internationally.
If you want to share your thoughts or get further information on any of the below, please email firstnationstrade@dfat.gov.au
Indigenous Business Month Showcase - Liandra and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
To celebrate Indigenous Business Month, DFAT is showcasing two successful businesses that are based out of the Northern Territory and, in recent years, have taken on the world.
Liandra
Liandra Gaykamangu has channelled her love of her country and culture into her resort wear label, Liandra. For nearly seven years, she has used fashion as a medium for cultural expression and storytelling, believing that clothing sends messages out to the world.
Liandra’s label has gained international attention, notably after first being featured in US Vogue, which spurred significant overseas interest. She emphasises the importance of understanding international markets, noting the larger opportunities available compared to Australia's smaller, concentrated population.
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), established in 2007, has become a prominent event in the global art scene, showcasing contemporary fine art and design from over 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres across Australia and is the only national event of its kind in the world.
While the 2020 pandemic forced a digital pivot for the art fair, it massively boosted their global engagement and audience. This set DAAF on a path of establishing a more all-encompassing international strategy, which has included major research into global markets, as well as the development of an Indigenous Arts Hub that aims to connect artists with global galleries, ensuring proceeds benefit the Indigenous communities DAAF serves.
With thanks to Larrakia company, Going North, for producing the videos.
Upcoming grant and program opportunities
First Nations International Fellowships and Partnerships Grants Program – Round Open
The Office for First Nations International Engagement (OFNIE) is pleased to announce that the first round of the First Nations International Fellowships and Partnerships Grants Program is open for applications.
There are two complementary grant programs, one to enhance the number of First Nations Australians participating in international meetings (Fellowships), the second to enhance capacity of First Nations Australians to build sustainable partnerships across the Indo-Pacific (Partnerships).
The Program provides funding to organisations to send delegations of up to six Fellows/Partners to participate in international meetings or collaborations. In the first year FY 24-25, $650,000 is available split evenly between Fellowships and Partnerships. Organisations can apply separately for both a Fellowship and a Partnership grant.
Fellowships in this round will be available to send delegations to:
- The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
- The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People (EMRIP)
Partnerships will focus on the following locations and themes:
- themes: reconciliation and truth telling, economic empowerment, and climate change and environmental management
- locations: the Pacific, Southeast Asia, the United States and Canada.
Applications close 5.00 pm AEDT 22 November.
For more information, and to apply go to: Current Grant Opportunity View - GO7220: GrantConnect (grants.gov.au)
Export Market Development Grant Updates – opening November 2024
The next round of Austrade's Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) program is opening to applications in November 2024.
The EMDG program provides grants to Australian small and medium enterprises and their representative bodies to:
- market and promote their eligible goods and services globally
- undertake export training.
EMDG provides grants across different tiers:
- Tier 1 – small and medium enterprises ready to export
- Tier 2 – small and medium enterprises exporting within existing markets
- Tier 3 – small and medium enterprises exporting to new key markets
- Representative bodies – that support small and medium business members to achieve export success.
The next grant round will open on the following dates:
- Representative bodies, applications open AEDT 10am on 6 November 2024
- Tier 1 – ready to export, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November 2024
- Tier 2 – exporting within existing markets, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November 2024
- Tier 3 – exporting to new key markets, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November 2024.
Information about eligibility and useful resources for how to prepare to apply is available at: Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) | Austrade.
Osaka Expo 2025 – Get Involved
There are lots of ways for you to get involved at the Australia Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka.
One of these is the new Event Curator Program. Expressions of Interest are open until 31 December 2024. This program will be focused on inviting non-for-profit organisations (NPO) to curate their own event for Australia at the Osaka Expo.
Successful candidates will be required to design, plan, and host events; arrange and confirm attendance of speakers, special guests and participants; manage event participation contracts, travel, and accommodation; and any associated logistical support. Funding support may be available.
More details and the relevant EOI submission links can be found here: Host an event | expoaus (expoaustralia.gov.au)
What is coming up?
First Nations Chamber of Commerce and Industry Summit 2024
The First Nations Chamber of Commerce and Industry are hosting their annual conference, the FNCCI Summit ’24. This year’s summit is being held from 26-27 November at the Gladstone Entertainment and Convention Centre.
This two-day event aims to bring together Traditional Owners, First Nations businesses, government and private sector representatives to explore best practice in participation and engagement for economic development, not just within the renewables industry but also the broader economy.
For more details and tickets to the summit, go to: FNCCI Summit ‘24
Recent News
National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance (NIBCA)’s First Nations Employment and Economic Development Forum in Naarm – 15 and 16 October
DFAT staff were excited to attend the National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance’s First Nations Employment and Economic Development Forum in Naarm on the 15th and 16th October.
It was an opportunity to hear from the First Nations business sector about ways to better support First Nations employees and increase First Nations employment pathways.
The Forum also explored current challenges and opportunities for First Nations businesses both domestically and internationally. The Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed, presented on his role and how the Australian Government is supporting First Nations economic and business interests internationally. He provided an update on recent achievements, including the finalisation of the Australia UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which includes Australia’s inaugural First Nations standalone chapter.
Launch of the Palawa Business Hub
The recently established Palawa Business Hub is a new initiative that connects government agencies, industry, Aboriginal people and the broader community to authentic Aboriginal businesses for their services or products. In addition to showcasing and connecting First Nations businesses to the broader community, Palawa also acts as a support centre for Indigenous-owned businesses based in Tasmania with information sessions and events being hosted by Palawa.
Indigenous Collaboration at Supply Connect 2024 through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
Through Australia’s IPEF Fund for Technical Assistance and Economic Cooperation (IFTAEC), DFAT funded a delegation of Indigenous businesses from Malaysia and Fiji to attend Supply Nation’s annual Summit, Connect 2024, in Brisbane from 27-29 August. The delegation was able to exchange knowledge with and learn from the Australian First Nations business community about strategies to expand commercial networks, identify trade opportunities and access capital and finance.
Australia’s Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed, joined several of the delegation’s engagements and hosted a dinner for the delegation with prominent Indigenous business stakeholders from Queensland. The delegates also attended the premiere of Torres Strait Island performance Straight from the Strait.
Advancing an inclusive trade and investment environment is an important part of DFAT’s ambition to promote sustainable economic growth and resilient supply chains in in our region. With the Indo-Pacific home to around 270 million Indigenous Peoples, Australia has been a strong advocate for Indigenous rights and economic interests in both the negotiation and implementation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment (MCTI) National Statement on Empowering First Nations Businesses Workshop – Brisbane
On 1 October 2024, DFAT and the QLD Government co-hosted an in-person workshop in Meanjin/Brisbane to further discuss the National Statement to support trade and investment outcomes for First Nations Australians which the under the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment has committed to agree on in 2024. The workshop was facilitated by Mr Jack Reis (CEO Baidam and Trade and Investment Queensland First Nations Board member) and Mr Cameron Costello (Queensland First Nations Tourism Council) and provided the opportunity for government to hear directly from representatives from the First Nations business sector on the National Statement.
We would like to again express our extremely gratitude to those representatives in attendance in Meanjin, and to everyone who has taken time to provide feedback on the National Statement to-date. Your feedback is crucial to the ensuring the National Statement is fit-for-purpose in maximising opportunities to support trade and investment growth for First Nations peoples and communities.
It’s important to highlight that the work doesn’t stop here, and that this is the start of an ongoing conversation. For inquires, please contact DFAT’s First Nations Trade Unit via firstnationstrade@dfat.gov.au.