Agencies and their role in securing investment from our partners
Foreign investment has been and will continue to be central to Australia’s prosperity. It helps drive economic growth, create skilled jobs, facilitate access to international markets and enhance productivity. Foreign direct investment is essential to achieving the government’s vision for the sector, particularly where it contributes to the development of sovereign capability, strengthens supply chain resilience, and aligns with Australia’s national security and interests.
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) work to advance Australia's critical minerals interests through international partnerships and diplomatic engagement.
This includes supporting the conditions for long term collaboration across critical minerals value chains. Australia’s ability to work constructively with a broad range of partners helps align policy, investment and industrial priorities across critical minerals value chains, which supports beneficial outcomes for Australia and our partners.
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) supports government objectives by facilitating commercial connections between Australian critical minerals companies and international buyers and investors. Through its global network, Austrade connects prospective offtakers, investors and downstream partners with Australian project proponents across mining, processing, refining and broader value chain development. Austrade’s business missions, market briefings and targeted commercial facilitation help translate investor interest into practical engagement with Australian companies.
Commercial facilitation and investment
Converting international interest into investment, offtake and commercial partnerships is critical to growing Australia's critical minerals sector. The Australian Government is connecting investors and end‑users to strengthen commercial links across the value chain. This connects projects with market opportunities, and support investment in mining, processing and refining activities.
Foreign investment framework
Attracting investment is only one part of Australia's approach to growing the nation’s critical minerals sector. Maintaining a transparent and predictable foreign investment framework is also important to ensuring investment supports Australia's long term economic, national interest and national security objectives.
The Foreign Investment Review Board advises the Treasurer in accordance with the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975. The Act requires foreign investors to notify the Treasurer of proposed foreign investments, including in relation to critical minerals, which meet certain criteria, and enables investors to voluntarily notify certain investments, or seek an exemption from notification requirements. The Treasurer has the power to prohibit these investments, or apply conditions to the way they are implemented, to ensure they will not be contrary to the national interest or national security, as the case requires.
Critical Minerals Prospectus
Austrade publishes and maintains the Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus. The prospectus builds on data available through Australia’s geoscience agencies and supports efforts to attract offtake and investment into Australia’s critical minerals sector by showcasing investment ready opportunities across the value chain.
The prospectus’ recent inclusion of the growing pipeline of midstream projects reflects Australia’s increasing capability in processing and refining and the opportunity to capture greater value across the supply chain. In addition, trade delegations showcasing Australian projects to potential international partners and investors provide opportunities to deepen cooperation on resilient critical minerals supply chains.
While the prospectus is a key entry point for investors, it is not exhaustive. Austrade can also facilitate tailored introductions to additional opportunities aligned with investor requirements, helping international partners navigate Australia’s expanding project pipeline, including its growing midstream processing capability.
Export-credit agencies and project finance
Developing critical minerals projects may require coordinated financing from governments through export credit agencies or other finance institutions. These organisations can play an important role in mobilising capital, reducing risk and supporting project viability, particularly where market volatility, financing constraints or other market distortions affect investment decisions.
Export credit agencies are increasingly working together to support the development of more diverse and resilient critical minerals supply chains. In Australia, EFA complements these efforts by providing finance and risk‑sharing mechanisms that help connect Australian projects with international demand, investment and offtake opportunities. Through instruments such as the Critical Minerals Facility and Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, EFA works alongside domestic and international financing partners, including partner export‑credit agencies, to support strategically significant projects and strengthen supply chain resilience.
