Happy Indigenous Business Month!
Reminder: Registrations to attend the 16th World Indigenous Business Forum 2025 on 28-30 October 2025 in Melbourne are still open. This key event celebrates Indigenous entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and global collaboration.
Realising the benefits of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
The new Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into force on 1 October 2025, provides a gateway for Australian exporters to diversify into the UAE and Middle East.
The UAE is already Australia's largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East, with over $12.3 billion in two-way goods and services trade in 2024. Under this deal, Australian exports to the UAE are expected to be higher by $678 million on an ongoing basis.
CEPA contains Australia's inaugural chapter on Indigenous trade in a free trade agreement (Chapter 17), titled Indigenous Trade and Investment Economic Cooperation.
This Chapter, and other Articles across CEPA, promote joint cooperation activities as the foundation for First Nations businesses to launch into the UAE and broader region. CEPA also elevates First Nations perspectives across environment, sustainable agriculture, intellectual property protection and investment.
If you are a First Nations business interested in exporting to the UAE, please visit the dedicated First Nations CEPA webpage or check out Austrade's Go Global Toolkit on the UAE.
Austrade will also be hosting two free virtual webinars in October for First Nations businesses keen on learning more about CEPA and the UAE market.
Register for the free virtual webinar on 'Exporting for Indigenous businesses, and the Australia-UAE CEPA' on 15 October 2025 from 11:00AM to 12:00PM AEDT, to gain practical export guidance for Indigenous businesses, including opportunities under the new A-UAE CEPA.
You can also hear more about the broader opportunities available through CEPA through the second seminar on 22 October 2025 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM AEDT.
Ambassador's Update
Work continues for the Ambassador for First Nations People and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as we continue to secure greater trade and investment opportunities and outcomes for First Nations businesses. Some highlights include:
- Chairing the second and third meetings of the pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group, ensuring the voices and insights of First Nations economic stakeholders are present in Australia's trade and investment agenda, and helping to drive economic growth for all Australians.
- Sponsoring and supporting international delegate participation at the AIATSIS Summit on Larrakia Country and at the Lowitja Institute's 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference on Kaurna Country.
- Attending the 18th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva, and Gala Reception Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples. Australia hosted a side-event at EMRIP on the theme of 'UNDRIP as a Compass for Economic Empowerment', which brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to identify ways to remove barriers and advance First Nations economic empowerment — locally, regionally, and globally.
- Hosting delegates from Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, PNG and Palau at the Garma Festival in Northeast Arnhem Land alongside DFAT's Head of the Office of the Pacific, Elizabeth Peak, to share stories, traditional knowledge and customs on country.
- Leading Australia's co-hosting of Te Aratini Indigenous Peoples Week at World Expo 2025 Osaka [PDF], and meeting with a range of key Japanese stakeholders including members of the Japanese Parliament, government and business leaders to discuss opportunities to deepen engagement on culture, trade and investment between Australia's First Nations Peoples and Japan.
- Visiting Samoa with a delegation of traditional ecological knowledge experts from Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga on a Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Climate Resilience Roadshow.
Recent News
First Nations Economic Partnership
On Monday, 29 September 2025, the Treasurer and Minister McCarthy announced the official signing of First Nations Economic Partnership that will work to ensure the diverse knowledge, skills and lived experience of First Nations stakeholders inform and strengthen economic reforms, helping to deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes.
National Statement on First Nations Trade and Investment
At the fifth meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment the Commonwealth, states and territories endorsed the National Statement on First Nations Trade and Investment. The Statement outlines a shared vision to boost trade and investment pathways and drive commercial success for First Nations businesses.
Third meeting of the pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group
DFAT held the third meeting of the pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group on 4 September 2025. Members exchanged views on Australia's trade and investment agenda, endorsed key priorities to support Chapter 17 of the Australia-UAE CEPA and discussed Australia's First Nations international engagement agenda.
"Enhance, Create, Preserve" – Indigenous Trade panel at the World Trade Organization's 2025 Public Forum (Australia, New Zealand and Ecuador)
Australia was pleased to join New Zealand and Ecuador in supporting a panel on how rules-based trade can support Indigenous businesses at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 2025 Public Forum in Geneva. The panel discussed how government can embed Indigenous priorities into trade policy and raised the profile of Indigenous trade to a global audience of policymakers, academics, and non-governmental bodies. Australia was represented on the panel by Florence Drummond, a Dauareb Wuthathi woman and trade advocate with diverse experience as an entrepreneur and consulting on Indigenous participation in the resources sector.
Celebrating Connection Through Creativity
The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations proudly supports Two Blood, a compelling new production by the Australian Dance Theatre created by visionary artists S. Shakthidharan, Daniel Riley and Jasmin Sheppard.
Creative projects have the power to connect people across borders, spark dialogue, and celebrate diversity. Two Blood is a moving exploration of the shared histories between Indigenous and Chinese communities in Australia, brought to life through film, music, and movement. This production exemplifies the transformative power of storytelling and the arts and will premiere on 28 October 2025.
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Indigenous Innovation and Trade - Embedding Worldviews in Sustainability
The Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA) invites interested stakeholders to join a webinar on 17 October 2025 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM AEDT that will explore how Indigenous worldviews, and innovation can shape sustainable trade. The discussion will focus on how Indigenous-led approaches can be embedded into trade agreements to deliver environmental solutions and open new trade opportunities.
Event: International First Nations Women Entrepreneurs Luncheon
Kinaway warmly extends invitations to join the International First Nations Female Entrepreneurs Lunch on 28 October 2025 from 11:30AM to 2:30PM AEDT, which will bring together inspiring First Nations women entrepreneurs from across the globe to share their business journeys, celebrate cultural knowledge, and build connections through networking.
Export Academy Events: Webinars
Keep up to date with Austrade's Export Academy webinars, including an introduction to Intellectual Property for First Nations businesses on 11 November 2025 AEDT.
Upcoming Program and Grant opportunities
EOI: WA Energy conference opportunity for Aboriginal businesses
Eligible Aboriginal businesses who supply products or services to the energy supply chain can apply to exhibit in the WA Government's Aboriginal Business Pavilion at Energy Exchange Australia 2026. Expressions of interest close on 24 October 2025 at 5:00PM AEDT.
Grant Program: 2025-26 Maitri Grant Program
The Centre for Australia-India Relations' 2025-26 Maitri Grant Program has been expanded with over $5 million available to support projects that will strengthen the Australia-India relationship in new and innovative ways across a number of sectors. Applications are open now and close on 4 November 2025 at 5:00PM AEDT.
Grants Program: ASEAN-Australia Centre 2025-26 Grants
The ASEAN-Australia Centre is working to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia and support the Australian Government's commitment to deliver on recommendations from Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The Centre's Grants Program for 2025-26 is now open for applications. Organisations across the business, education, cultural and community sectors are invited to apply for a grant by 12:00PM AEDT on 6 November 2025.
Grant Program: Drought Fund Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country
The Australian Government has committed $12 million to an inaugural grant program under the Future Drought Fund that supports place-based, First Nations-led initiatives. The Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country Grant Program will deliver this investment through community-driven projects that build resilience to dry times and climate impacts. Applications are now open and close on 16 December 2025 at 9:00PM AEDT.
Calls for submissions: Southeast Asia Free Trade Agreements modernisation review
Don't miss your chance to contribute to the modernisation of Australia's Free Trade Agreements (FTA) in Southeast Asia. Send submissions to FTAmodernisation@dfat.gov.au by 31 December 2025.