Digital Trade / Services and the Indigenous Opportunity

 The Covid pandemic changed the way we work. The work from home revolution proved that employers could save money, access a more productive workforce and most importantly it proved that they could access human capital anywhere in the country. The remote workforce has and will impact the value of digital trade in Canada.

Platforms like ITFC that creates an environment for Indigenous service providers to engage and create economy contributing to the overall value of digital trade as a component of the Canadian
economy.

Though there is a framework established by the OEDC, WTO and IMF to measure the economic value of digital trade, they readily admit that there is no clear definition and thus it makes it hard to effectively measure.

According to a recent publication of the Conference Board of Canada one of the key findings of the most recent research is as follows:

Digital Trade in not just a simple substitution to conventional means of goods and services delivery. It also represents a new source of innovation, creativity and economic growth.

How can Canada’s Indigenous community benefit from movement?

Enhancing the digital capacity of Indigenous people in northern or remote communities by providing the internet and broadband infrastructure is the first step. The Canadian government has invested almost 1.5 billion dollars in Telesat Lightspeed that would bring internet, LTE and 5G to remote communities.(https://blog.itstimeforchange.ca/leo-is-out-of-this-world/ )This kind of investment will go along way in providing the confidence that employers will need to engage and mobilize an Indigenous remote workforce.

The opportunities for Indigenous peoples in remote areas of Canada are limitless. The ability to deliver short modular courses, now referred to as “Micro-Credentials” over the internet can
prepare underemployed individuals for emerging opportunities resulting from new collaborations with government, the private sector and Indigenous communities.

In platform sharing opportunities, like those available to Indigenous service providers on the ITFC inclusion platform provide opportunities for personal and professional growth that were not available before.

The Nominal GDP associated with digital economic activities in Canada totaled $109.7 billion in 2017, roughly 5.5 % of the total economy or the size of the wholesale industry.

That was 2017, the most recent study, imagine what it is today! If we as a country are moving towards a new relationship with Indigenous people and are committed to inclusion and engagement, Digital Trade has to be a part of the discussion. It must start with the policy makers and industry associations and business leaders.

Its Time for Change!

Originally published at https://blog.itstimeforchange.ca on November 30, 2021.

Best Indigenous Procurement Services for Indigenous Canada

 

Indigenous Procurement Services

Indigenous Procurement Services for Aboriginal Businesses of Canada

Indigenous procurement opportunities are the path for the economic development of Indigenous businesses in Canada. The federal government of Canada is running business development programs and offering indigenous procurement services for the development of indigenous-owned businesses.

The government of Canada initiates the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) policy to help the indigenous businesses with procurement opportunities in the Federal government.

But due to the lack of knowledge and resources, Aboriginal businesses of Canada miss the opportunities to grab those federal government procurements.

Therefore to help First Nations, Metis, and Inuit-owned businesses different private organizations provide procurement services to these aboriginal businesses. That boosts the economic development of the aboriginal peoples of Canada.

It’s Time For Change (ITFC) -

ITFC is one of the best private organizations in Canada that offers procurement services for Indigenous business development. ITFC helps indigenous peoples to identify available procurement opportunities.

A social impact platform that recognizes that an engaged economic inclusion network will provide benefits to Canada’s Indigenous communities, their businesses, and the non-indigenous business community!

Government of Canada -

The government of Canada has started the initiative and support programs to help the Aboriginal businesses. Officials of Canada know the importance of the aboriginal communities in the national economic development country.

They are running support, training, and initiative programs to boost the economic growth of indigenous peoples of Canada. Different indigenous services running by the Canadian Government to support indigenous economic development are

• Selling your innovation
• Procurement and business support services
• Procurement strategy for Aboriginal businesses
• Indigenous business directory
• Information technology infrastructure procurement
• Green procurement
• Engaging with bidders and contractors
• Report fraud in government contracts

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) -

CCAB is a bridge between indigenous businesses and non-indigenous businesses of Canada. It helps aboriginal peoples to connect with the non-aboriginal populations, enterprises through the programs.

It supports the growth of indigenous businesses through diverse programs, business awards, events, network building, and training.

The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) positions Aboriginal business at the point of convergence for reinforcing Aboriginal people groups, advancing reformist and prosperous connections, and growing another economy dependent on common regard and shared success.

CCAB gives a variety of business advancement contributions, including accreditation for Aboriginal-claimed organizations (CAB) and organizations with Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR). TFAB (Tools and Financing for Aboriginal Business) associates Aboriginal business people with instruments, preparing, and organizations to fortify and scale their organizations.

Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. -

Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. (ICT) is an organization that offers training for the economic development of Indigenous communities.

We do this by giving a protected preparing climate to students to secure the information, abilities, and disposition needed to be powerful.

Native Corporate Training Inc. (ICT) was established in 2002 by Bob Joseph, a Gwawaenuk Nation member who is a guaranteed Master Trainer, with a foundation in business organization and a previous partner teacher at Royal Roads University.

Summing Up

These are the best organizations in Canada for the Economic Development of Indigenous Businesses. These organizations are running several different programs to support the economic development of Indigenous businesses and help to find and grab the indigenous procurement opportunities available in Canada.

Indigenous procurement services offered by these organizations help small aboriginal businesses to make a strategy for the economic growth of local businesses of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities.

Article originally posted at: https://itstimeforchange.medium.com/best-indigenous-procurement-services-for-aboriginal-businesses-development-b028eb129699