WHEN: 22 July 2024 I TIME: 9:30 - 12:00 (Jakarta Time) I Venue: Hotel Gran Mahakam, Jakarta
- Watch the recording of ACEBA Launch HERE
- Watch the recording of the Indonesia Inauguration Workshop HERE
- Photos 22 July HERE
- Photos 23 July HERE
Background
The transition towards Circular Economy (CE) in Southeast Asia is gaining momentum since the adoption of the 2021 ASEAN Circular Economy Framework, and national and/or thematic strategies and action plans. There is also growing support to ASEAN businesses and organisations through initiatives that catalyse business action towards adoption of circular economy strategies and practices.
The SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component (PSC) supports the transition of ASEAN countries to a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and circular economy. It also recognises the contribution of regional stakeholder platforms and networks that support SCP implementation, involving (M)SMEs and business intermediaries to adopt cleaner technologies and more sustainable and circular industrial practices, as well as helping consumers to act more responsibly in their daily choices and lifestyles.
One of the current SWITCH-Asia PSC technical advisories (TA) on mobilizing business action for circular economy in ASEAN is aimed at mobilizing business action for circular economy in ASEAN, which is being implemented at the request of the ASEAN Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Network. The TA is aimed at arriving at an unifying understanding of the circular economy and its criticality for ASEAN Member States informed by and supported with practical experiences and lessons learned from CE implementation by ASEAN businesses.
Through this initiative, a unifying framework on circular economy was presented and endorsed through various business engagements in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. This Framework positions Circular Economy as a responsible business practice and innovation agenda for addressing unsustainable use of materials and other natural resources. The Framework caters for diversity in the development and implementation of specific Circular Economy solutions, by country, by sector, by market segment and/or by business size.
50+ business cases have so far been developed and published that illustrate how businesses, including corporates, SMEs and startups, operationalized circular economy to their business benefit whilst achieving tangible circular economy progress. The collection of business cases is currently being expanded. Through this initiative, a consultative and exploratory, experience-finding and consensus-building process took place on the business and industry opportunity and responsibility for the circular economy transition.
ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance (ACEBA)
Through this initiative, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and the ASEAN Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Network (A CN), which served as its champion for its ASEAN Code for Responsible and Inclusive Business, conceptualized the ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance (ACEBA) as an ASEAN centric initiative of and forbusinesses to catalyse leadership and action for the regional Circular Economy transition in Southeast Asia. ACEBA encourages ASEAN businesses and their business membership organizations to pledge their commitment to business leadership and action on Circular Economy. Facilitated by country leads in (participating) ASEAN Members States and supported through the ASEAN Responsible And Inclusive Business Alliance (ARAIBA), ACEBA will provide visibility for and voice to its participating companies to ASEAN, its entities and government and business sectors in ASEAN Member States. ACEBA will uncover, document, showcase and facilitate the scaling up of good business practices and innovative solutions, facilitate learning and sharing among ACEBA companies and beyond, and promote operational tools and metrics that are appropriate to the ASEAN region, relevant to the ASEAN Member States and specific to their leading and emerging business sectors.
Launch of ACEBA
The ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance will be launched on Monday 22 July 2024, 9:30 – 12:00 by the A CN and ABAC with support from the SWITCH-Asia PSC at Hotel Gran Mahakam, Jakarta Indonesia.
Objectives
- To launch ACEBA as an ASEAN-led responsible business initiative
- To showcase ASEAN circular economy business cases documented with support from EU SWITCH Asia Policy Support Component
- To encourage businesses to join ACEBA’s call for business leadership and action on Circular Economy and thereby contribute to the achievement of the ASEAN Circular Economy Framework
- To gain support and buy-in from stakeholders – the business community through ASEAN BAC and business associations in ASEAN, governments through ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Coordinating Council for MSMEs
- To gain support from the governments, international development partners and potential supporters.
Invitees
The event will be participated by partners, organisers, country leads, supporters, and businesses (ASEAN BAC, ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Ambassadors to ASEAN – the Committee of Permanent Representatives, Senior Officials from ASEAN Secretariat, EU Delegation, ACCMSME, ABAC, AMAB, KADIN, business representatives, SWITCH-Asia Consortium partners, among others).
Agenda
|
Time |
Topic |
Lead |
|
09:30 |
Arrival, registration with coffee/tea |
|
|
|
||
|
10:00 – 10:10 |
Welcome Remarks |
Thomas THOMAS, Co-Convenor ACEBA; CEO, ASEAN CSR Network; and senior expert, SWITCH Asia PSC |
|
10:10 – 10:30 |
ACEBA Genesis and Opportunity: framework for business action, lessons learned and plans |
Zinaida FADEEVA, team leader SWITCH Asia PSC Rene VAN BERKEL, Co-Convenor ACEBA; senior expert SWITCH-Asia PSC; and Thammasat University |
|
10:30 – 10:40 |
ASEAN towards responsible and inclusive business conduct as foundation for circular economy |
Gil GONZALES, Co-Convenor, ACEBA; Executive Director ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) |
|
10:40 – 10:55 |
Circular Economy Transition in ASEAN and support to ACEBA |
Satvinder SINGH, Deputy Secretary General, ASEAN Economic Community |
|
10:55 – 11:10 |
EU’s commitment to supporting ASEAN in the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and circular economy |
Sujiro SEAM, EU Ambassador to ASEAN |
|
11:10 – 11:30 |
ACEBA Launch |
Video, Official launch, and Reflections from ACEBA Participants |
|
11:30 - 11:40 |
ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
Joanne TAN, Chair of the ACCMSME, Co-Chair of ASEAN MSME Advisory Board (AMAB), Deputy Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore |
|
11:40 – 11:55 |
National business organisations |
Basrie KAMBA, Head of Circular Economy Permanent Committee of Sustainability Taskforce, Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia) Nimnual PIEWTHONGNGAM SME Committee, Chairperson, Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) |
|
11:55 – 12:05 |
Q&A with Audience |
|
|
12:05 – 12:10 |
Vote of Thanks |
Zinaida FADEEVA, Team Leader, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component |
|
12:10 – 12:15 |
Photo |
|
|
12:15 – 13:30 |
Luncheon |
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