Indigenous trade fair opens in Brisbane
Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Trade Fair has opened today in Meanjin (Brisbane) with more than 90 exhibitors presenting their businesses in the halls of the Royal International Convention Centre.
Around 400 attendees from government, corporate and non-profit organisations attended the event looking to source products and services from verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
Indigenous suppliers are active across all sectors of the economy, and the Brisbane Trade Fair will host companies representing food and beverages, information technology and cybersecurity, construction and civil engineering, recruitment services, fashion and beauty, office supplies and transport services, to name a few.
Supply Nation’s recently released report The Sleeping Giant Rises found that for every dollar of revenue produced by Indigenous-owned businesses, $3.66 of positive economic and social value was generated into the Australian economy.
Social value refers to the positive changes seen through an Indigenous lens of wellbeing – one that encompasses people, Country, and Culture.
Opportunities with government and businesses
This value includes improved agency and control over life, expanded aspirations, financial security, pride, health and wellbeing and stronger connections to Community, Culture and Country.
Indigenous businesses create this value purely by operating as a business, it excludes any formal or informal support or other philanthropic programs.
“We are very excited to be back in Meanjin following our extremely successful Connect event last year,” CEO Kate Russell said.
“It’s very important for Supply Nation to support our Queensland-based suppliers but also to provide an opportunity for interstate businesses to seek collaboration opportunities with government and businesses here.
“Given the upcoming Olympics, that’s also added incentive for us to make sure Indigenous-owned businesses are in a position to be considered for some of the significant procurement contracts required in the lead up to hosting one of the world’s biggest events.
“Supply Nation now has more than 6000 verified businesses listed on our national database – Indigenous Business Direct. If procurement professionals working on Olympic related projects are looking for something specific, be it construction or environmental management services, catering, PPE, right through to cybersecurity and design services, they will find it there.”
In the financial year 2024-25, Supply Nation’s corporate, government and non-profit members achieved a new national milestone recording a total of over $5.83 billion of procurement spend with Indigenous-owned businesses.
