At the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum 2024 (ACEF2024) in Bangkok, Thailand, on 2 October, more than 350 stakeholders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU stressed that cross-sectoral collaboration and harmonisation of regional efforts are essential to advance the circular economy and ensure the green transition of Southeast Asian countries.
The forum highlighted the ASEAN and EU approaches to circular innovation.
Minister Counsellor Renita Bhaskar, Head of the Trade and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Thailand, said she was looking forward “to working with such a dynamic region that has seen a 40% rise in circular start-ups, demonstrating the commitment to affordable yet profitable sustainability solutions”.
EU speakers shared the EU’s next priorities under the new European Commission, with a particular focus on progressing the European Green Deal.
Key ASEAN initiatives, such as Indonesia’s circular economy framework, Thailand’s private sector collaborations and Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 presidency, were also presented. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)