OBJECTIVE

The ACEF serves as an annual platform for the ASEAN policy community to hold dialogues with stakeholders and discuss how to advance a circular transition more effectively through national policies and regional initiatives. It brings together government officials and ASEC officers from the socio-cultural (ASCC) and economic (AEC) communities, reflecting the cross-cutting nature and multiple objectives of a circular transition. The ACEF is a unique platform due to its focus on circular economy, ASEAN integration and cooperation, stakeholder dialogues, and broad participation of government officials. 

ACEF 2024 has the following specific objectives:

  1. Explore how to better encourage and support Innovation and Entrepreneurship for a circular transition.
    • Identify common challenges faced by innovators and entrepreneurs working with circular business models and product designs.
    • Show how governments can stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship for circular solutions.
    • Discuss how to better leverage existing ASEAN-level initiatives related to circular innovation and entrepreneurship and suggest new regional actions.
  2. Draw attention to existing circular economy practices in ASEAN, such as repair and reuse activities
    • Explore how such activities, both for-profit and others, can be improved and expanded
    • Identify what roles governments can play
  3. Explore how a circular transition in ASEAN can build on the region’s traditions, values, and home-grown concepts.
  4. Provide ideas on circular economy activities and initiatives to be considered for the 2025 Malaysian ASEAN Chairmanship

Main event 2 October, five sessions

  • ASEAN initiatives – current status, lessons learnt and next steps
  • EU initiatives in Europe and ASEAN – current status, lessons learnt and next steps
  • Electrical and electronic equipment – Strengthening the existing repair and refurbishment sector
  • Circular Startups – startup ecosystem for circular businesses in ASEAN (discussing the outcomes of a pre-event)
  • Outlooks
    • Building circular societies based on Southeast Asia’s traditions and values
    • Towards strengthened and coherent ASEAN cooperation on circular transition – priorities for the next five years

Pre-events on 1 October on private sector perspectives, especially MSMEs

  • Circular Startups – organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation
  • Financing & Best Practices in Circular Plastics and Circular Textiles