Unlocking indigenous economies at APEC
The often untapped potential of indigenous economies is on the agenda at APEC 2021, hosted by Aotearoa.
“Supporting indigenous economies helps to drive future growth and recovery.”
- Vangelis Vitalis
Indigenous voices from Indigenous voices from across the Asia-Pacific are being heard at APEC 2021 as New ealand works to show the untapped power and potential that can be unlocked by economies working in partnership with indigenous people.
wenty-one economies make up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, representing more than half of global trade and more than 60 per cent of global P. ith an eye on using APEC as a vehicle for positive change, New ealand has held several first-of-theirkind meetings focused on indigenous people and their economies, using its virtual platform to invite indigenous representatives to the table.
Officials here have used the Māori economy as an example of how inclusion and trade can benefit both indigenous people and the wider economies they work within.
Our own indigenous economy is thriving. etween 2006 and 2019, the Māori economy grew from 16. billion to a staggering
69 billion, providing job opportunities and pathways to prosperity. Our own success is one of the reasons why APEC 2021 is focussing on the often-untapped potential of indigenous economies.
ut as Vangelis Vitalis, APEC Senior Official explains, there are other reasons behind this focus.
“t’s not just an acknowledgement of the [value of] Māori and indigenous economies in the APEC region. e also need to recognise that indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected by issues such as Covid-19 and economic crises given past ine uities. Across the region, they have the biggest gaps [economically] and supporting indigenous economies helps to drive future growth and recovery.”
hese priority areas have been explored in-depth at APEC 2021. uilding consensus around the importance of indigenous economies, engaging with Māori business in New ealand and encouraging other economies to do the same.
hen there’s the diversity of our indigenous economic sector which is at the leading edge of innovation and productivity.
“APEC-adjacent” work will be conducted alongside this, working to facilitate and build indigenous connections to grow trade amongst indigenous peoples and APEC economies.
Vitalis explains that growing export markets is a longer term goal of building stronger indigenous connections and increasing digital trade amongst indigenous peoples.
“[Exporting can] increase productivity by up to 0 per cent, raise wages by up to 10 per cent and grow employment by up to per cent.”
ndigenous industries are often situated in primary sectors. hose are often the sectors which face the highest international barriers, whether tariffs or non-tariff barriers.
his compounds the issues these communities already have, often placing seemingly insurmountable roadblocks in their way.
Vitalis explains that APEC can be instrumental in facilitating cross-region opportunities for these businesses, which help them overcome such hurdles.
“APEC can be a vehicle for positive change,” he says.
“It opens up dialogue around the barriers [indigenous economies] face. Many of the businesses who are wanting to export are facing additional barriers in terms of access. s ‘boring old officials’ can help to break down such barriers, connect people with a range of interests, and help to drive innovation.”
Underpinning the focus on indigenous economies is a report commissioned by APEC New ealand, which highlights the potential of indigenous economies across the APEC region.
his report formalises the commitment to indigenous economies, and provides a concrete starting point from which APEC countries can continue their work supporting these economies.
New ealand has ensured that Māori have featured in our digital presence at APEC.
ikanga is used to open meetings, te reo has been adopted and, Māori music has been utilised to help create as authentic as possible an experience for delegates joining meetings. he importance of tangata whenua’s connection with the land also plays a prominent role, and Vitalis says that there is a real resonance with many other APEC members who recognise many points of connection.
“e are getting a lot of feedback from APEC members who can see the partnership that we are developing with Māori,” he says. “New
ealand is being seen as an evolving, inclusive and diverse society.”
he economies of APEC have responded well to the focus on indigenous economies and the opportunities this can deliver, including to help recover from the impact of Covid-19. “here has been an unparalleled level of engagement for events,” says Vitalis. e looks forward to seeing that the connections that have been developed during APEC blossom in years to come.
“e are really leaning into [the work being done around indigenous economies], to make sure that the impetus is sustained. Our year is not the end point for indigenous economies, this is just the end of the beginning.”