Opportunities for micro- to small-enterprise development are
cumulatively significant and provide important pathways for
building business and other work skills
The CRC will work with Indigenous land managers to identify and
initiate enterprises based on natural resources. In generating
wealth and employment, these initiatives will also allow people to
remain active on and care for country in a manner consistent with
cultural values and obligations.
Specific opportunities include:
- growth in arts and crafts (present turnover in the NT exceeding
$30M a year),
- new bushfood harvests ($14M nationally but presently little-sourced
from the tropics and with great potential for growth), and
- related tourism ventures.
Research has shown that there is a particularly high unmet demand
for culture-based tourism products. The CRC will focus on
developing strategies and toolkits for local communities to capture
and maximise commercial and social benefits from tourism. Such
ventures serve as pathways to business training, building capacity
to engage in other, mainstream enterprise and enter regional
workforces.
A key role for the Tropical Savannas Futures CRC will be to
demonstrate feasibility of new products and enterprises and,
drawing on the diversity of its partnerships, link investors to
opportunities.
