Navigating barriers and opportunities: Indigenous-owned SMEs driving sustainable international trade

Across the globe, Indigenous-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are demonstrating that business success and cultural integrity can go hand in hand.

Although their global trade presence remains modest, Indigenous SMEs make a significant domestic impact: in Canada, they account for 2.4% of gross domestic product (GDP); Native American-owned businesses generate $78.5 billion annually in the U.S.; and Indigenous enterprises in Australia and New Zealand hold over AUD$16 billion and NZ$126 billion in assets, respectively.

Our study examines Indigenous SMEs across Canada, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, highlighting who these entrepreneurs are, how their businesses operate, and what this means for sustainable and inclusive international trade. Drawing on national statistics, trade reports, and case studies, we explore export activity, industry diversity, and the barriers and opportunities these businesses face.

We found that Indigenous SMEs blend traditional trading knowledge with modern business strategies to create culturally authentic, environmentally responsible, and community-oriented enterprises. Yet international participation remains limited: in 2020, only 7.2% of Canadian Indigenous SMEs exported, roughly half the national average. Key challenges include limited funding, infrastructure gaps, complex regulations, and low global visibility.

Despite these hurdles, Indigenous businesses are innovating through e-commerce, storytelling-driven branding, and cross-border Indigenous-to-Indigenous networks. With supportive policies like the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA), culturally responsive trade programs, and export-readiness training, these businesses can expand globally, strengthen Indigenous economies, and contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive, and culturally respectful international trade system.Sui, S., Bull, J., & Tahsin, S. 2025. Navigating barriers and opportunities: Indigenous-owned SMEs driving sustainable international trade (external link, opens in new window) . AIB Insights.