The Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation has announced a bold new strategy armed with $655 million to build the wealth and wellbeing of Aboriginal Territorians.

The newly-named Aboriginal Investment NT's 2024-2029 Strategic Investment Plan launched Wednesday sets a five-year roadmap to strategically invest and deploy $655 million, with a vision of driving Aboriginal-led development across the NT.

AINT was established to independently manage funds previously held in the Federally-controlled Aboriginal Benefits Account, where responsibility for deploying capital sat under Ministerial control and Canberra-based decision makers.

Under its Strategic Investment Plan, Aboriginal Investment NT will invest capital across two funds: a Community Ready Fund and Future Fund.

These funds will operate together, with distributions to deliver immediate impact on the ground while also growing a sustainable funding base for current and future generations.

AINT chairperson Barbara Shaw – a Kaytetye, Arrernte, Warramunga and Warlpiri woman – said Aboriginal-led investment was key to unlocking economic prosperity in the NT, and AINT would use its capital to back Indigenous organisations, businesses and small and large-scale investment opportunities in the region.

Investment was focused on income-generating assets, so local Aboriginal communities could meet their own social, economic and cultural aspirations.

"With more than 50 per cent of the NT's land mass and 85 per cent of its coastline Aboriginal-owned, the potential for Aboriginal-led investment is immense," Ms Shaw said.

"Aboriginal culture-based industries are steadily growing, the Aboriginal population is young and diverse, and Aboriginal Territorians are brimming with ideas for their families, communities and futures."

Ms Shaw said AINT's investments were informed by broad consultation with Indigenous people, businesses and organisations across the NT, and experts and extensive research, to better understand opportunities for Aboriginal economic empowerment.

She said research on the investment in the NT found large-scale developments often marginalised Indigenous communities, with decisions and beneficiaries often altogether separate from Aboriginal communities.

"This plan marks a pivotal change for Aboriginal Territorians, ensuring our people have the capital to drive investments, with financial and non-financial benefits flowing to our communities, fostering both immediate and long-term benefits across the region," Ms Shaw said.

"Never before has there been the capital of this scale to support development that leverages Aboriginal assets."

Ms Shaw said AINT's backing would position Aboriginal Territorians as key economic players, with control shifted to NT communities.

"We are looking forward to seeing the benefits this will bring, not just to our people, but to the entire Territory," she said.

Strong governance and accountability were central to AINT's approach.

"While Aboriginal Investment NT presents a different look and feel, we are the same organisation; just with a fresh and ambitious approach that will deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians," Ms Shaw said.

The Community Ready Fund has initial capital of $155m to invest in Aboriginal-led opportunities, and support business and community grants that build local capacity and drive sector development.

The Future Fund's initial capital of $500 million would facilitate long-term investments that generate financial returns and enable future distributions to the Community Ready Fund, with interest from public, private and philanthropic partners already forthcoming.

"We are eager to attract co-investment opportunities to increase capital and further support to Aboriginal communities," Ms Shaw said.

"We welcome commercial partners who share our bold vision of bringing sustainable Aboriginal investment opportunities to fruition."

Aboriginal Investment NT operates independently of government and has a Aboriginal-majority Board who come from all corners of the NT, bringing a wealth of experience, as well as connection to Country, cultures and community.

More information on Aboriginal Investment NT and its new Strategic Investment Plan is available online.