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 Canadianrneconomy. 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?rnEnhancing 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.rnThat 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.