Applications are open for a new category - First Nations Exporter Award - for the outstanding international success of Indigenous export businesses at the 63rd Australian Export Awards.

Sobah Beverages founder Clinton Schultz said there's been significant growth in Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurship in the past decade.

"I believe it's important that we recognise First Nations businesses in the Export Awards," Dr Schultz said.

A purpose-led business, Sobah Beverages exists to raise positive awareness and promote First Nations' culture, arts, language, and history.

Its range of non-alcoholic craft beers are flavoured with native ingredients that include finger lime, Davidson plum, strawberry gum and lemon aspen.

"The Export Awards is a great way to get a profile on First Nations business," Dr Schultz said.

Sobah has won several awards including the 2024 Premier of Queensland Export Awards in the First Nations category, and it was recognised at the 2024 Brisbane NAIDOC Innovation Award for their contribution and achievements in the Australian beverages industry, pioneering non-alcoholic craft beer ahead of the trend.

Established in 2017 on Kombumerri Country, the Gold Coast, Sobah Beverages has built a reputation for raising positive awareness of First Nations culture, while also breaking down stigmas around socialising sober.

"More often than not, businesses [are] coming from more humble beginnings than many other industries, in terms of there's not intergenerational wealth more often than not. [So] to get that recognition...can help them to...get to that next stage," he said.

The new First Nations Exporter Award category is open to Indigenous-owned businesses in any industry and of any size that have been exporting for three years or more.

Businesses that have been exporting for less than three years can apply for the Emerging Exporter Award. First Nation businesses are also encouraged to apply in the 13 established award categories.

Austrade is running a free one-hour online webinar on Thursday 15 May at 9am AWST / 11am AEST that will show applicants what it takes to put together a winning award entry. OFFICIAL

Run by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), entrants first apply in their home state and territory program before progressing as national finalists. Entries for the 2025 Australian Export Awards are now open and close on 13 June.