DEAL facilitates planning and coordinated action to support emerging industries in the region and acts as a ‘front door’ for businesses and investors from Australia and around the world. We actively promote the region to businesses and investors to facilitate investment and partnership opportunities.

DEAL is committed to supporting traditional owners in East Arnhem to realise the economic value of their land and achieve their development aspirations. All land in East Arnhem is recognised by law as Aboriginal Land, and almost 80 per cent of the region’s residents are Yolŋu. To support this commitment, DEAL is delivering the first East Arnhem Landowner Prospectus in partnership with traditional owners, the Northern Land Council, and regional stakeholders.

DEAL coordinates planning and actions to support the development of regional focus industries – including tourism, forestry, fisheries and agriculture – through regional working groups and the Regional Economic Development Committee. In addition, we are proactively exploring opportunities of value in other emerging and innovative industries – including human services, renewable energy, space, and digital services, as well as understanding new supply line opportunities arising from improved infrastructure.

DEAL was pleased to launch Invest East Arnhem in 2020, our refreshed investment guide for the region.

DEAL’s industry development and attraction role includes actively promoting East Arnhem to businesses to facilitate investment and partnership opportunities. We are a ‘front door’ for domestic and international businesses by connecting them with relevant stakeholders in the region, by helping to navigate development processes and providing a better understanding of the opportunities that exist in East Arnhem.

Invest East Arnhem is a key part of this.

Ensuring those interested in exploring investment opportunities in East Arnhem are equipped to make informed decisions based on current information is critical to growing and diversifying our regional economy. Invest East Arnhem succinctly provides a depth of key information across a range of key areas of interest, including:

• Regional economy and communities
• Existing and emerging industries
• Infrastructure, access and development processes
• Business and investment support

Invest East Arnhem will be a useful resource for existing businesses and future investors, and we look forward to working together to explore the myriad of opportunities available.

The East Arnhem Landowner Prospectus project is being led by DEAL and undertaken in partnership with traditional owners, the Northern Land Council and regional stakeholders. The Prospectus will provide a mechanism for industry, businesses and investors to explore investment and partnership opportunities with Yolŋu traditional owners.

The focus of this significant project is to empower Yolŋu to develop new industries based on evidence and enter new partnerships. Importantly, the project will:

• bring together existing evidence and knowledge about possible economic opportunities in East Arnhem
• provide feasibility information to assist investors and businesses to better understand the opportunities available
• support in connecting investors and businesses with Yolŋu traditional owners and communities who are interested in partnership opportunities on their country.

To find out more visit the project summary below:

Tourism to East Arnhem is an emerging industry, which is expected to grow significantly over the coming decade to form a substantial proportion of the region’ economy. East Arnhem is one of the last pristine tropical paradises in Australia with over 65,000 years of rich cultural heritage, including a history of land rights, untouched beaches and incredible biodiversity. The region is perfectly suited to a wide variety of travellers interested in its unique culture and beautiful landscapes.

The East Arnhem Land Destination Management Plan (DMP) was released in November 2021 and forms a roadmap for the region to achieve collaborative and sustainable growth of the tourism industry over the next decade. The DMP is focused on bringing together governments, private industry and community organisations to address key barriers to visitation and to enhance the support services available for local businesses to enter the industry.

A new research project will investigate the potential for commercial Indigenous forestry in East Arnhem. Funding from DEAL, the Northern Territory Government, National Indigenous Australians Agency, USC: University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia and Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation unlocked funding from the Australian Government, as part of its voluntary matching agreement with Forest and Woods Products Australia.This project will assess the long-term commercial viability of forestry in the region and support Yolŋu communities who wish to use their land for employment and economic benefit, alongside cultural purposes.

Read more about this exciting opportunity for the region at the link below.

There are a number of noteworthy attributes which make East Arnhem a competitive location for the global Space Industry. Not least the long history associated with Rio Tinto’s mining operations has seen investment in a level and scale of infrastructure not normally found in other comparatively remote locations. East Arnhem is now looking to the future. There are many exciting new industries aspiring to call the region home.

DEAL invested in Equatorial Launch Australia to support the development of one of Australia’s first commercial space launch facilities. The Arnhem Space Centre is located in the Northern Territory’s East Arnhem region, just 12 degrees from the equator, allowing launch vehicles to leverage the earth’s rotation to gain extra velocity. Arnhem Space Centre is located on the Dhupuma Plateau just outside of the town of Nhulunbuy, a regional service hub for the East Arnhem region, providing access to crucial existing infrastructure including a high quality airport, a deep sea port, a regional hospital, accommodation and broadband optical fibre connectivity.

You can read more about the Arnhem Space Centre here.

You can read more about the opportunities for aerospace in East Arnhem here.