Global supply chains face unprecedented challenges due to geopolitical uncertainty, natural disasters, and changing climate hazards, pandemics, and technological disruptions. Businesses and governments alike are seeking strategies to strengthen resilience, diversify sourcing, and adopt sustainable and responsible supply chain practices.

Organisations that anticipate disruptions, diversify suppliers and markets, and embed ESG practices are better positioned to remain competitive, attract investment, and comply with evolving trade and regulatory standards. Building these capabilities regionally is essential to strengthening Indo-Pacific economic resilience.

The project has been developed by the Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) to respond to Australian and IPEF priorities and engagement, by equipping government counterparts, industry bodies, chambers, and other institutional actors in the region with the strategies, frameworks, and tools required to strengthen national and regional supply chains and to more effectively support SMEs.

This supports Australia’s broader strategic and security goals in the Indo-Pacific, by promoting economic stability and prosperity and regional integration.

This project responds to IPEF priorities, specifically the IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement, which directly encourages members to build the capacity of SMEs to more effectively navigate supply chain disruptions.

Article 2.14 of the Agreement encourages members to: ‘use tools such as risk and readiness assessments, economic development programs, technical assistance and capacity building to help enterprises, particularly manufacturers that are SMEs, to:

(a) identify risks to their supply chains, such as cybersecurity risks and risks from single- or sole-source providers.

(b) diversify inputs, particularly from other Parties, into their production;

(c) increase their industrial capacity and productivity;

(d) adopt advanced manufacturing and supply chain technologies;

(e) enhance their ability to purchase inputs;

(f) access financing, including where appropriate through export credit and development finance agencies;

(g) manage logistics costs and benefit from economies of scale;

(h) adopt and comply with relevant international standards, including through support to meet testing and certification requirements; or

(i) better understand, manage, and reduce their cybersecurity risk and proactively protect their networks, systems, and data’.

DFAT has established demand for the training program through consultation with ODA-eligible IPEF posts and outreach to MSME industry groups and stakeholders in the target countries. The Office of Supply Chain Resilience (OSCR) in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources also was consulted on the proposed training program, and engagement will be maintained to ensure alignment with Australian government engagement, and maximise synergies with ongoing government-led activities.