Central Asia is prioritizing policy development for a circular economy. Experts deemed it essential to ensure policy coherence by aligning national policies with international standards and embedding circular principles across sectors in a realistic manner and within specific contexts; enhance inter-institutional coordination through collaboration among government, the private sector, and civil society; and put in place diverse funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships, including implementing green public procurement practices that can drive demand for sustainable products and services.

Thomas Thomas and Rene Van Berkel, ACEBA co-convenors, shared insights and experiences of Southeast Asian businesses with circular economy implementation in this forum, co-organized by the EU SWITCH Asia Policy Support Component and the Regional Environment Centre of Central Asia. Rene van Berkel engaged in the framing discussion on the importance of material resource efficiency, and circular economy for ambitious climate action. Furthermore, he elaborated on the guiding principles for business action on circular economy in the business knowledge sharing panel, moderated by Thomas Thomas.