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Since value chain partnerships are at the core of circular solutions, we want to foster collaboration between companies in Southeast Asia and the European Union. This action-focused event will be a unique opportunity to share and collect ideas and explore concrete collaboration possibilities with circular business partners. You will understand more about the value creation opportunities the circular economy offers through different business models beyond recycling. You will also have the possibility to learn about funding opportunities, best practices and tools to support the uptake of circular economy business models.
The event will include an engaging panel discussion on the bottlenecks and enablers of the circular economy transition, as well as circular business model presentations by companies from Malaysia and Finland. Speakers include internationally operating companies which have successfully applied circular principles in their business or based their whole business on circular economy.
The event will be followed by a delicious dinner and networking at Botanica.
Join us to create new partnerships and foster circular economy collaboration between Southeast Asian and European businesses and other key stakeholders!
The event is organised as a side event to ASEAN Circular Economy Forum (ACEF) 2025 which will take place in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 16-17 October 2025. The event is also an official WCEF Side Event. The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) is a landmark event of the year that brings together business leaders, policymakers and experts to present the world’s best circular economy solutions.
This invitation only event is targeted at companies and stakeholders working with circular businesses from all sectors in Southeast Asia and Europe.
Programme
Moderator: Marleena Ahonen, Sitra / EU Circular Economy Resource Centre
| 14:30 |
Registration and coffee
|
|---|---|
| 15:00 |
Opening session
Welcoming words
– Jarno Syrjälä, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Keynote: From Growth to Balance: Reimagining circular future from collaboration and ASEAN’s wisdom – Kim Lê, Founder & Managing Director, CL2B |
| 15:20 |
Circular business operating environment
Panel discussion: Enablers and bottlenecks of the operating environment
– Juliana Adam, CEO, Biji-biji Initiative – Pauline Goh, Head of Partnership, DARA – Dr. Nor Halizam Ismail, Director of Health and Environment, Kuala Lumpur City Hall – Kari Herlevi, Programme Director, Sitra International Programmes – Phasporn Sangasubana, Executive Director, ACSDSD |
| 16:10 |
Coffee break
|
| 16:20 |
Business cases and funding opportunities
Dialogue: Funding opportunities in Southeast Asia for Circular economy
– Nazim Noor, Director, ESG Strategy & Solutions, Global Banking, Maybank – Pekka Laitinen, APAC Regional Manager, Business Finland Circular economy business models and value creation – Riku Sinervo, Senior lead, Sitra International Programmes Circular business models on the ground – 5 cases from different business models and sectors Enabling Circular economy accross different industries – Rushikesh Dikule, Senior Sales Manager, Energy, Asia Pacific, Valmet Circular Economy as the cause and solution of ocean plastic pollution – Anssi Mikola, CEO & Founder, River Recycle PETRONAS’ Circular Economy Approaches – Siti Amirah, Circular Economy, Strategy, Policy & Regulations (SPR), Corporate Sustainability, PETRONAS Leading the ecosystem to revive existing buildings – Mr. Lawrence Yeow, Head of Sales, New Building Solutions, KONE Malaysia Catalysing circularity in textiles, clothing and plastics – Adelyn Ghwee, Head of Marketing & Communications, Kloth Circularity |
| 17:45 |
Closing session
Working towards circularity: EU-cooperation with Malaysia and ASEAN
– Rafael Daerr, Ambassador of the European Union to Malaysia Call to action! – Anne Vasara, Ambassador of Finland to Malaysia |
| 18:00 |
Networking dinner
|
Organised jointly by the EU CERC and
The EU CERC is funded by
and operated by
The European Union Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) is a joint initiative of the European Commission, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Belgian agency for international cooperation Enabel. The centre aims to promote circular economy collaboration between the EU and partner countries in the Global South and to increase the uptake of circular economy policies and business models globally.
Contact us
Elisa Shafiqah Shahrilnizam, Political and Trade Team Assistant, Embassy of Finland in Kuala Lumpur elisa.shahrilnizam@gov.fi
Mohamed Farid, Senior Advisor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia mohamed.farid@businessfinland.fi
