On 25 August 2026, Technical Workshop 2, themed “Transition Roadmap and Investment Plan”, was held in Ho Chi Minh City in a hybrid format. The workshop brought together nearly 40 participants, including representatives from eight enterprises selected to participate in the Post-Training Support Programme under the “Accelerating Circular Economy for Business” (ACE-Biz) Project.
Building on Technical Workshop 1 and a series of in-depth one-on-one advisory sessions, Technical Workshop 2 marked the programme’s transition from circular business model development to implementation planning. The central question was no longer only which circular idea an enterprise wished to pursue, but what needed to be done, who would be responsible, what resources would be required, and how progress and results would be measured.
The ACE-Biz Project is funded by the Government of the Netherlands through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam, in cooperation with the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Viet Nam.
The Post-Training Support Programme is implemented by the Environment and Ecology Institute and Yunus Environment Hub Viet Nam, supporting eight enterprises across the industrial, agricultural and environmental sectors to further develop their circular business models, transition roadmaps and investment plans.
Connecting enterprise journeys with WCEF 2026
In her opening remarks, Ms Phan Hanh Tam, Director of Yunus Environment Hub Viet Nam and representative of the Programme Implementation Team, introduced three key outputs that enterprises would continue developing during the next phase: an implementation roadmap for their prioritised circular business model, an investment plan, and a pitch-deck storyline through which the model could be communicated.
Ms Hoang Thi Dieu Linh, Programme Officer for Waste and Circular Economy at UNDP Viet Nam, introduced the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 (WCEF 2026) and the accelerator session “Building Circular Business Ecosystems: Lessons from Viet Nam and the Global South”.
The session helped participating enterprises understand opportunities to connect, showcase their models and exchange experience through an international platform. It also highlighted how the models being developed under ACE-Biz relate to the broader global movement towards circular transformation.
From identified hotspots to implementation roadmaps
Experts Mr Ton That Hac Minh and Mr Tran Anh Tuan guided the enterprises in reviewing their journey from hotspot identification and value-loss analysis to circular business model development and the selection of priority solutions.
Lessons from the one-on-one advisory process demonstrated that a circular idea can only progress towards implementation when it is supported by relevant data, evidence and testable assumptions. Data gaps and outstanding assumptions therefore need to be translated into specific validation actions before major investment decisions are made.
During the roadmap session, enterprises were introduced to a structured method for translating a prioritised business model into implementation phases, milestones, responsibilities, resource requirements and measurable indicators.
In the practical session, representatives of the eight enterprises worked in groups with direct support from the experts to develop an initial roadmap. They then presented their work, received feedback and identified the areas requiring further refinement.
Linking transition roadmaps with investment planning
Beyond implementation planning, the workshop helped enterprises identify the information required for an initial investment plan, including resources, capital expenditure, operating expenditure, expected benefits and financing needs.
Mr Tran Anh Tuan also introduced the structure and techniques for developing an effective pitch. Enterprises were guided in communicating the problem to be addressed, the proposed circular solution, the value it could create, its implementation plan and the corresponding investment needs.
This process supports enterprises in translating technical and financial information into a clear and structured story for potential partners, investors and other stakeholders.
Continuing through in-depth advisory support
Following Technical Workshop 2, the participating enterprises will continue working with the expert team through a series of in-depth one-on-one advisory sessions. These sessions will support each enterprise in refining its implementation roadmap, investment plan and pitch-deck outline based on its actual operations, available resources and remaining evidence requirements.
Promising models will also have an opportunity to be showcased at the Demo Day on 17 September 2026, during the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, India.
Through a structured journey from baseline assessment and hotspot identification to business model development, implementation planning and investment preparation, ACE-Biz is helping enterprises turn circular ideas into practical, evidence-based and actionable pathways.
