Indigenous entrepreneurship can have a transformative impact on the global economy by bringing forth innovative businesses based on sustainability, community resilience, and cultural heritage. Indigenous businesses differ from traditional businesses that are mainly profit-oriented by placing a strong emphasis on the triple bottom line: economic success, social justice, and environmental stewardship.
Firstly, indigenous businesses are able to extend global value chains by providing niche products like eco-tourist experiences, traditional crafts, and sustainably sourced natural products that respond to emerging global demand for authenticity, sustainability, and ethical consumption.
Secondly, indigenous entrepreneurship diversifies economic innovation by integrating indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) into sustainable agriculture, conservation of biodiversity, and renewable energy. It offers alternative approaches to addressing such global challenges as climate change and food security.
Thirdly, by promoting indigenous involvement within the world economy, entrepreneurship facilitates inclusive economic development and leads the way towards narrowing systematic gaps of wealth as well as empowering traditionally marginalized groups of people.
Ultimately, indigenous entrepreneurship also serves as a cultural bridge that brings diversity of world views and value systems into the international markets. Such cross-cultural exchange breeds more respect for diversity and furthers the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Therefore, indigenous entrepreneurship is not merely about economic contribution; rather, it involves transforming global markets into ones that are more ethical, resilient, and inclusive.
Indigenous entrepreneurship is becoming more and more recognized as a major driver in the global economy. Indigenous enterprises contribute significantly to national economies, such as over $30 billion annually in Canada alone, and are some of the fastest-growing areas of business in numerous countries. Indigenous enterprises diversify economies, enhance resilience during periods of global uncertainty, and enhance domestic competitiveness by integrating into supply chains and reaching new markets (How Indigenous Peoples Are Reshaping Modern Economies, 2024).
Indigenous businesses play a significant role in enabling self-determination and reducing dependence on government programs and welfare. By creating local jobs, own-revenue sources for public goods, and retaining economic activity on traditional lands, these businesses allow communities to determine their own economic destiny. Entrepreneurship also allows for strong role models, with additional innovation and enterprise within Indigenous communities being encouraged (Mcdonald, 2019).
Indigenous entrepreneurship will often incorporate cultural values, traditional knowledge, and a focus on community wellbeing into their ventures, leading to business models that put social and environmental returns on an equal footing with profit (Mcdonald, 2019 , How Indigenous Peoples Are Reshaping Modern Economies, 2024. This is closely connected to international sustainable development agendas, and Indigenous businesses play a key role in fostering inclusive, responsible economic development Mcdonald, 2019 , How Indigenous Peoples Are Reshaping Modern Economies, 2024).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business people are working in different sectors, including tourism, natural resource management, agriculture, and technology (Mcdonald, 2019, World, 2024, How Indigenous Peoples Are Reshaping Modern Economies, 2024). For example, Indigenous tourism will add $67 billion to the global economy by 2034 creating jobs and driving economic growth in remote regions while maintaining cultural heritage (World, 2024). Indigenous enterprises have become competitive at the global level in areas like mining, food production, and sustainable seafood in countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.