The Aboriginal Business Expo 2020 has been hailed a resounding success by organisers, with more than 280 Aboriginal businesses in attendance to network with 40 different Government Agencies and industry representatives.
Treasurer and Minister for Finance, Ben Wyatt (pictured, centre), who opened the Expo, said he was enthusiastic about the benefits for Aboriginal businesses and the wider Indigenous community.
“I am thrilled with the level of interest in attending the Expo from across the Aboriginal business community,” Mr Wyatt said.
“The Expo provides a fantastic opportunity for representatives from the Aboriginal business community to meet with Government Agencies and learn about the huge potential to secure supply goods and services to the State Government.”
He said the Expo also celebrated the success of the Aboriginal Procurement Policy, with an expectation that increasing numbers of contracts would be awarded to Aboriginal businesses as the policy became embedded in Agency practice.
“The Aboriginal Procurement Policy aims to successfully deliver Government contracts while improving the economic prosperity of Aboriginal people in businesses, their suppliers, sub-contractors and the broader Aboriginal community,” Mr Wyatt said.
“The policy requires Government Departments to award one per cent of contracts to Aboriginal businesses, rising to three per cent by 2021.”
He said the policy achieved strong results in its first year, with 4.77 per cent of contracts awarded to registered Aboriginal businesses.
In 2018-19, a total contract value in excess of $167 million was awarded to 92 Aboriginal-owned businesses throughout the State and across a variety of industries.
