First Nations businesses succeeding internationally

This report examines the experiences of First Nations businesses involved in exporting and international trade and tourism.

Date published
30 August 2024
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Summary

This landmark report uses a dataset of First Nations businesses created from:

  • Supply Nation's First Nations business registry 
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Business Longitudinal Analysis Data Environment (BLADE).

This resource will be used to:

  • inform stakeholders’ decisions about First Nations’ international trade
  • guide shared decision-making amongst stakeholders for the benefit of First Nations people.

It was developed by:

  • Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
  • Supply Nation.

Results

The research made several discoveries.

  • Turnover of First Nations businesses from tourism has grown over recent years. This is due to a growing international interest in Indigenous cultural tourism, an opportunity for the sector.  
  • In 2022-23, First Nations businesses in tourism-related industries employed almost 7,000 workers and generated nearly $1 billion in turnover.
  • Compared to all First Nations businesses studied, First Nations goods exporters typically:
    • generated almost 9 times more in turnover
    • employed over 7 times more full-time equivalent workers.
  • First Nations goods exporters studied generated over $670 million in turnover in 2022-23, with opportunities to benefit more from exporting.

Contact us

Visit the Go Global Toolkit, enquire online or call 13 28 78.