Indigenous trade missions Trade missions connect businesses to new partners, markets, distributors and consumers. Over the past 20 years, Indigenous businesses have shown increased interest in leading or participating in these missions to revive inter-Indigenous trade relationships and form new partnerships reflecting their modern economic development. Some governments have included Indigenous business leaders in trade missions and trade-promotion activities such as World Expos. However, Indigenous businesses face challenges in participating in missions due to structural disadvantages – including limited financing, discriminatory perceptions, smaller company size and timing constraints – especially in high-profile missions such as those led by heads of state. These challenges highlight the need for inclusive planning and support to ensure equitable access to international trade opportunities for Indigenous businesses. Examples of Indigenous trade missions BOX 4 Between 2009 and 2017, New Zealand’s minister for Māori development led a series of Māori trade missions focused on reciprocity and relationships. This Māori trade strategy aimed to provide Māori businesses with global flexibility, emphasizing a culture-leading-commerce approach. Unlike mainstream missions, these focused on cultural connections, commercial viability and market characteristics. The principal objectives were building cultural connections, adding value to Māori businesses, increasing trade opportunities and developing long-term relationships. Targeting markets with similar collective and traditionally nature-centred world- views – such as China, Japan, Malaysia and the UAE – these missions helped Māori businesses access high-level connections, enhance their brand presence and expand their networks, leading to better market understanding and increased trade and investment connections. In 2018, the Canadian Chapter of the World Indigenous Business Network partnered with the Canadian minister of international trade diversification, Jim Carr, to lead an Indigenous trade mission to the World Indigenous Business Forum (WIBF) in Rotorua, New Zealand. This mission resulted in the creation of the Rotorua Group, a plurilateral alliance involving Australia, Canada, Chile and New Zealand, where ministers committed to regularly sharing information on Indigenous development issues, recognizing their similar experiences and aspirations in trade. In 2023, the Victoria State Government, Australia and the Aboriginal Economic Development (AED) group led an Aboriginal trade mission to New Zealand to explore opportunities in the New Zealand economy, especially in the NZ$30 billion ($17 billion) Māori economy and NZ$119 billion ($67.5 billion) Māori asset base,14 and followed up in 2024 with an Aboriginal food and beverage trade mission to New Zealand. In 2024, the US Department of Agriculture conducted its first ever Indigenous agribusiness trade mission to Canada led by USDA undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, Alexis M. Taylor. This Indigenous mission focused on knowledge-sharing, collaboration opportunities and promoting Native American and Native Hawaiian businesses and products. Enabling Indigenous Trade: Actionable Guidance for Governments 15

Enabling Indigenous Trade 2025