Welcome to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's monthly First Nations Trade and Investment Bulletin – August 2024 edition! If you want to share your thoughts or get further information on any of the below, please email firstnationstrade@dfat.gov.au.
Upcoming grant and program opportunities
COALAR 2024-25 Grant Round
The Council on Australia Latin America Relations is pleased to announce that the 2024-25 grant round is open for applications!
The grant program aims to strengthen links between Australia and Latin America; increase awareness and understanding of Australia in Latin America and of Latin America in Australia; and foster closer engagement between corporate Australia with Latin America.
Funding between $10,000 to a maximum of $50,000 per year is available, with co-contributions (in kind-and/or cash) from applicants and other parties strongly encouraged.
Priority areas for the grant round include:
- Culture and Entrepreneurship
- Education and Research
- Environment and Energy Transition
- First Nations
- Mining, METS, and Resources
Applications close 12.00 pm AEDT 25 October.
For more information, and to apply go to: Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) grants
Council for Australian Arab Relations (CAAR) 2024-25 Grant Round – opening 1 October
The Council for Australian Arab Relations (CAAR) 2024-25 Grant Round are about to open!
Applications open Tuesday, 1 October at 0900 hours (AEST) and will close Thursday, 14 November 2024 at 1100 hours (AEDT) advertised on the CAAR website.
The aim of the Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) is to broaden and strengthen Australian-Arab relations by advancing areas of shared political, economic, and social interest and building a greater appreciation of each other's cultures and values.
We welcome applications from our First Nations People. Partnerships formed with Middle East and North African (MENA) applicants are also welcomed.
CAAR 2024-25 Grant Round priority sectors are:
- Innovation and Sustainability
- Health and Sport
- Social Cohesion and Gender Equality
- Arts, Media and Culture (includes First Nations culture)
The CAAR 2024-25 Grant Round offers one year funding to successful applicants who will receive a share of the total grant funding of $430,000:
- Minimum grant amount: $20,000 per year
- Maximum grant amount: $60,000 per year
You can contact the CAAR Secretariat at caar@dfat.gov.au in reference to the grant round before 12 November 2024 with questions.
South Asia Business Exchange Mission to India – EOIs open now
Austrade is deepening Australia's trade with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka through the South Asia Business Exchange (SABX). SABX will bring Australian businesses to market on sector-specific business missions, developing their South Asia literacy and highlighting the export opportunities that abound in some of the world's fastest growing economies.
Austrade is now accepting EOIs for SABX's DigiTech mission to the Bengaluru Tech Summit (Nov 18-22, 2024) and encourages applications from First Nations tech businesses. The mission, visiting both Bengaluru and Chennai, will promote Australian Digital Tech capabilities and facilitate connections to the Indian Tech eco-system.
For more information on SABX, please contact Jake Kite (jake.kite@austrade.gov.au).
AusIndustry: First Nations Business Regional Manager – NSW role (closing 2 October)
AusIndustry is seeking applicants for the First Nations Business Regional Manager role in NSW.
AusIndustry, part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, provides services to small and medium size businesses. For over 25 years AusIndustry has been a valuable hub, nurturing partnerships and networks, providing connections, and helping businesses to navigate the local, state and federal government support to get the best outcomes for each business.
As a First Nations Business Regional Manager you will undertake complex work under broad direction. You will play a major role in the face-to-face, front-line delivery of the Department’s national service offering, providing a tailored approach to the promotion, reach and success of these services for First Nations business throughout the designated State/Territory. You will travel extensively throughout your State/Territory of responsibility as a key representative of the Department and the Commonwealth government.
See more about the First Nations Business Regional Manager role or contact Tracy Constable on 0427 658 086 or at tracy.constable@industry.gov.au. Applications close 2 October 2024.
Export Market Development Grant Updates – opening November 2024
Austrade's Round 4 Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) applications will open to eligible businesses and representative bodies in November 2024.
The EMDG program provides grants to Australian small and medium enterprises and their representative bodies to:
- market and promote their goods and services globally
- undertake export training.
EMDG provides grants for the following:
- 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.
Austrade are currently managing 4 grant rounds. Grant rounds 1 to 3 are closed to applications. Round 4 will be the next round to open for applications. There will be different opening dates for representative bodies and each tier. The times and dates are:
- Representative bodies, applications open AEDT 10am on 6 November
- Tier 1 – ready to export, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November
- Tier 2 – exporting within existing markets, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November
- Tier 3 – exporting to new key markets, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November.
Information about eligibility and requirements, application processes, grant management and changes to the EMDG program are available online: Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) | Austrade.
Recent News
A-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
We are pleased to announce the recent completion of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations. CEPA contains the first dedicated chapter for Australia's trade agreements which is specific to First Nations and Indigenous People trade and Investment Economic Cooperation. This chapter recognises the important contribution that First Nations people and businesses make to international trade and investment, and the importance of empowering First Nations people and businesses to benefit from the opportunities created.
The Chapter encourages cooperation and exchanges of information through joint trade and investment promotion activities relevant for First Nations businesses. It also covers investment, traditional knowledge, digital trade, agriculture and environment.
We will reach out again soon with an upcoming opportunity to engage with us on the agreement. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to the First Nations Trade Unit if you have any questions.
First Nations Businesses Succeeding Internationally
Late last month the Minister for Trade and Tourism launched the report 'First Nations businesses succeeding internationally'. This 'first of its kind' research uses ABS datasets and Supply Nations business registry to identify the performance of a selection of First Nations businesses engaging in international trade and tourism.
The research finds First Nations businesses that trade internationally typically create more jobs and contribute more to the national economy than other First Nations businesses studied.
It also finds:
- First Nations tourism businesses employed almost 7,000 workers and generated nearly $1 billion in revenue in 2022-23.
- First Nations exporters generated over $670 million in revenue in 2022-23 and typically employed over seven times more workers than other First Nations businesses.
- There is a significant opportunity for First Nations businesses to benefit more from exporting noting goods exports typically represent a small portion of total sales for the First Nations exporters studied.
Produced by DFAT, Austrade and Supply Nation, the report marks an important first step in delivering evidence-backed insights to support First Nations businesses to engage in these sectors.
Questions on the research can be directed to the Trade Analysis Team via data@dfat.gov.au.
APEC Indigenous Trade Dialogue
Australia hosted an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Indigenous Trade Workshop on 20 August in Lima, Peru that brought together Indigenous leaders and entrepreneurs, policy makers and academics from across the APEC region, and international organisations including the World Economic Forum, the OECD and the International Trade Centre. This was a follow-up to an earlier APEC Indigenous Trade event hosted by Australia in Seattle in 2023. This year's workshop focused on how digital tools can increase market opportunities, promote supplier diversity and bring Indigenous goods to international markets; opportunities in the services sector, with a focus on cultural heritage, tourism and creative industries; and collaborative approaches for trade, climate action and biodiversity conservation.
The workshop was well attended with approximately 100 participants, including representatives from across the APEC region, and including Supply Nation, Indigital, the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Cooperation and the Nature Conservancy (Australia). The event helped to generate new Indigenous networks, and raised the profile of Indigenous trade, and highlighted the value of incorporating Indigenous voices in discussions about trade in APEC. These series of workshops are being delivered by Australia in APEC alongside Australia's Growing Indigenous Businesses through Trade (GRIT) program, which supports Indigenous entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help expand export markets by building practical trade knowledge and skills and creating a supportive network.
What's coming up?
First Nation Employment & Economic Development Forum – 15-17 October 2024 | Naarm/Melbourne
The 2024 First Nations Employment and Economic Development Forum provides a platform for collaboration and problem-solving, bringing together corporations, community and First Nations business leaders. Taking place in Naarm/Melbourne from 15-17 October 2024, this national Forum is proudly backed by the state and regional based members of National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance Working Group.
For more information and to register your attendance, visit the First Nation Employment & Economic Development Forum website.