More than 280 representatives from the Aboriginal business community are expected to meet today to explore further opportunities for Aboriginal businesses to supply to government.
The second annual Aboriginal Business Expo will involve more than 40 different government agencies and trading enterprises, to showcase the opportunities for Aboriginal-owned businesses to secure contracts for government goods and services.
The Expo follows the successful first year of the McGowan Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy.
The Policy seeks to successfully deliver government contracts to Aboriginal businesses, while improving the economic prosperity of Aboriginal people in business, their suppliers, sub‑contracts and the broader Aboriginal community.
It achieved strong results in its first year, with 4.77 per cent of contracts awarded to registered Aboriginal businesses, more than three times the 1 per cent target.
In 2018-19, a total contract value in excess of $167 million was awarded to 92 different Aboriginal-owned businesses throughout the State and across a variety of industries.
Leederville based and Western Australian-owned security services company, Eon Protection is one of the businesses awarded a contract under the policy. Supplying security services valued in excess of $850,000 for the Swan District Hospital site, Eon Protection has realised both commercial and social benefits.
Facilitated by the Department of Finance, the Aboriginal Procurement Policy target for 2019-20 is to award 2 per cent of State Government contracts to Aboriginal owned businesses, increasing to 3 per cent in 2020-21.
As stated by Finance Minister Ben Wyatt:
“I am thrilled with the level of interest to attend the Expo from across the Aboriginal business community. The inaugural Expo was a huge success, and we hope to build on that momentum at this year’s event.
“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.
“Our Aboriginal Procurement Policy means that Aboriginal-owned businesses are now in the box seat to secure this work. The first year of the Policy achieved spectacular results and I’m confident that future targets will continue to be eclipsed.
“The value of this policy is not only commercial, it assists in delivering wider benefits across Aboriginal communities.”
