This event is an accelerator session at the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 (wcef2026.com). WCEF2026 will gather forward-looking thinkers and doers and present the game-changers in the circular economy. The forum will be held from 15 to 18 September 2026 in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India. WCEF2026 is organised jointly by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change of India, together with global and local partners. Free of charge, open to all online.
The transition to a circular economy requires more than innovative enterprises. It depends on enabling ecosystems that connect businesses with finance, markets, technology, policy support and strategic partnerships. Closing the gap between early-stage innovation and bankable projects requires supportive policies, blended finance, risk-sharing instruments and reliable data linking waste resources with market demand.
The session will showcase experiences from Viet Nam, Africa and other low- and middle-income countries, highlighting circular solutions in agriculture, food and beverage, wastewater, textile and manufacturing. Participants will discuss how enabling policies, innovation ecosystems, finance, risk-sharing instruments and decision-support tools can help bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and bankable investment opportunities.
Through business cases and dialogue, participants will examine the evidence, partnerships, governance and evidence needed to build market confidence and circular models. Drawing on experiences from the Viet Nam Circular Economy Hub, International Water Management Institute, Holland Circular Hotspot, the session will offer insights on developing investable circular business across the Global South.
Objectives
- Showcase circular business models from Viet Nam and demonstrate how ecosystem platforms can accelerate circular innovation, partnerships, investment, and policy dialogue across key sectors.
- Explore policy, financing, and market mechanisms needed to accelerate circular business growth in emerging and developed economies.
- Foster international cooperation and knowledge exchange among governments, businesses, financial institutions, and circular economy networks.
Target audience of this session
Enterprises, government partners, investors, banks, financing institutions, industrial associations, cities, development partners and organizations, researchers and innovation actors seeking practical approaches for developing investable circular economy business models through enabling policies, partnerships, financing and evidence-based decision support.
Format
- Date and time: Thursday, 17 September 2026. From 13.00 – 15.30 IST
- Venue: The Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre, Seminar Hall 3, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Format: Hybrid mode; online link will be provided to registered participants
- Register here: https://forms.gle/9gaE26ozPAiRot2C7
Main speakers:
- Representative from IWMI (India & Bangladesh)
- Representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam/Viet Nam Environment Protection Fund (VEPF)
- Representatives from the Netherlands Embassy
- Representative from UNDP Viet Nam
Other members:
- Mr. Amit Sinha, Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) India Ltd.
- Dr. Rajashree Joshi, Vice President, Programs at BAIF Development Research Foundation, India
- Engineer Solomon Noi, Director of Waste Management, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (TBC)
- Representatives from Holland Circular Hotspot
- Representatives from banks and financing institutions from Viet Nam
Agenda: please visit this shared file
