📋 Tender Overview
Project No.
CTI_03_2026S
Project Title
Growing Indigenous Businesses through Trade (GRIT) Virtual Roundtable Series
Project Status
Project in Implementation
Fund Account
Self-Funded
Project Year
2026
Sponsoring Forum
Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI)
Topics
Green Economy; Infrastructure; Trade Facilitation; Trade Liberalization
Committee
Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI)
Other Fora Involved
Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved
Proposing Economy(ies)
Australia
Co-Sponsoring Economies
Chile; New Zealand; Peru; Philippines; Chinese Taipei
Expected Start Date
01/08/2026
Expected Completion Date
30/11/2027
Project Proponent Name 1
Katherine Vouzas
Job Title 1
Assistant Director, APEC Governance and Reform Section
Organization 1
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Telephone 1
Not Applicable
Email 1
Not Applicable
Project Proponent Name 2
Not Applicable
Job Title 2
Not Applicable
Organization 2
Not Applicable
Telephone 2
Not Applicable
Email 2
Not Applicable
Declaration
Katherine Vouzas
Project Cost (US$)
$0.00
Project Summary
Building on the success of the APEC Growing Indigenous Businesses through Trade (GRIT) program, this series of virtual roundtable series seeks to provide targeted follow-up and capacity building support to help address persistent challenges facing Indigenous-led businesses in translating their strong value proposition into sustainable export outcomes. These centre on (a) selecting appropriate market-entry methods; (b) familiarising international stakeholders, including customers and buyers, about the cultural, environmental, health and community benefits often embedded in Indigenous products and services; (c) protecting Indigenous cultural IP in international markets; (d) understanding practical e commerce pathways for Indigenous brands and (e) supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs to prepare effectively for trade missions to support market entry.
A series of virtual roundtables will be held online throughout 2026/27 targeting Indigenous entrepreneurs and interested government representatives across regional cohorts in APEC to share regionally relevant content and support the internationalisation of Indigenous businesses.
