Inclusive trade and investment growth

South Australian Government programs will be designed to support inclusive trade and investment growth.

The South Australian Government, led by DSD, will provide support, advice and tools to enable First Nations business growth in domestic and international markets.

A program to be developed and delivered in partnership with key Aboriginal stakeholders and other government agencies, would include:

• grants to support First Nations businesses with business and export capability
• support for First Nations businesses to participate in business missions, connecting South Australian First Nations exporters with international partners
• dedicated trade and investment advisory services for First Nations businesses
• support to position First Nations tourism and hospitality businesses to attract domestic and international visitation
• support to become investment-ready and with tailored introductions to potential investors.

The Office for Small and Family Business – within DSD – delivers the Women in Business Program designed to support women-owned businesses in South Australia. It includes initiatives to give entrepreneurial-minded women every opportunity to pursue their goals, leading to a more diverse and inclusive business community in South Australia.

The support includes capability and skills development opportunities through mentoring as well as scholarships to support women leading high-growth businesses to improve their leadership skills and establish best practice governance and strategic planning.

The Office for Women – within the Department of Human Services – is also working with DSD
to further develop supports for women-led businesses, while also focusing on increasing the number of women in the key male-dominated export industries including: defence, space, and renewable energy.

South Australia’s Closing the Gap Implementation Plan outlines actions to support priority reforms and 17 socio-economic outcomes for First Nations peoples.

First Nations trade and investment uplift activities strengthen South Australia’s delivery against Outcome 8: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 who are employed to 62 per cent.

South Australia’s regions are a key source of economic activity for the state, with approximately 72 per cent1 of goods exports (by value) sourced or produced outside of Greater Adelaide. Indeed, over the last decade over 20 per cent of investment projects have been announced in regional areas.

TradeStart Advisors – working within DSD through a partnership with Austrade – provide tailored export advisory services and export readiness initiatives to many businesses in regional areas.

Advisors are based in regional (as well as metropolitan centres) and have expertise in industry sectors across the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Eyre Peninsula and Whyalla, Yorke Peninsula and Mid/ Far North, Barossa Valley, Clare, Limestone Coast, Riverland and Murraylands.

Their local knowledge – combined with export expertise – assists regional businesses to develop export growth plans, assess market selection, determine entry strategies and access grants, assistance and international opportunities through South Australia’s global offices and Austrade’s TradeStart network.

The Office for Small and Family Business – within DSD – provides information and resources to help start, run and grow small and family businesses.

Business Support Officers in regional and rural South Australia offer tailored one-on-one support, and the office also delivers a range of industry capability support programs across the state.

The South Australian Government also collaborates with Regional Development Australia (RDA), which brings together all levels of government to help achieve regional goals.