First Nations Report spotlights success of trade and tourism businesses

The Australian Government has released a first of its kind report demonstrating the success of First Nations trade and tourism businesses on the global stage.

The First Nations Businesses Succeeding Internationally Report highlights the significant contribution that First Nations exporters, importers and tourism businesses make to the community, creating jobs and driving Australia’s growth.

The First Nations Businesses Succeeding Internationally Report found that:

• First Nations trading businesses typically create more jobs, and contribute more to the national economy than non-trading First Nations businesses.

• 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.

• First Nations tourism businesses employed almost 7,000 workers, and generated nearly $1 billion in revenue in 2022-23, off the back of a rebound in international visitors.

The report shows the important opportunities for growth and highlights the benefits for First Nations businesses in going global.

Supply Nation Chief Executive Kate Russell noted “The release of this report is an important step in understanding both the growth and benefits of Indigenous export. It highlights how the skills, talents and resilience of our Indigenous business community are helping them to succeed internationally, but it also highlights how much work there is still to do.

“Supply Nation is delighted to partner with DFAT and Austrade to not only produce this report but also to provide practical support to our Indigenous businesses seeking to internationalise.”

“The growth of the Indigenous business sector is a bright spot in the Australian economy. Supply Nation now has well over 5000 verified Indigenous business on our Directory and it’s natural that many of them will seek collaborative partnerships and business growth in international markets.”

The First Nations Businesses Succeeding Internationally Report was developed in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and Supply Nation. You can read it here.