Experts urge businesses to integrate circular economy into growth strategies
The shift to a circular economy must be integrated into corporate business strategies and investment plans to boost profitability, reduce supply chain risks, and advance carbon neutrality. Ho Chi Minh City expands space for next-generation industries HCMC proposes cooperation with India in AI, semiconductors, high-tech talent Autumn Economic Forum seeks to turn partnerships into growth Autumn…
The Asia Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production convened in Vietnam to urge businesses to embrace circular economy principles. The Institute for Circular Economy Development, a partner of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, organized the 18th annual meeting, which took place during the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 side events.
The event aimed to bridge scientific knowledge with industrial application to expedite digitalization and green transformation across key sectors in pursuit of carbon neutrality.
Opening the ceremony, Vietnamese academic Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Tam emphasized the need to merge scientific expertise with real-world requirements. He lauded the collaboration between the Ho Chi Minh City Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and stressed the importance of upgrading skills and providing green financing to SMEs.
Ministry of Industry and Trade's Dr. Hoang Van Tam underscored that policy-making must rely on solid data and evidence, urging researchers to provide actionable recommendations. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment's Dr. Sho Nakamura detailed Japan's circular economy strategy, advocating for resource recycling and sharing the success of a waste-to-energy plant project in Bac Ninh Province. He suggested Asian nations find harmony between their unique cultural traits and common regional objectives.
Professor Gopalakrishnan Kumar from the University of Stavanger in Norway discussed the symbiotic relationship between digitalization and green transformation. He suggested that Vietnam could learn from Norway's waste-to-biomaterials and biomaterials production technologies, as well as single-cell protein generation from carbon dioxide and organic waste.
UNDP's Akiko Yamamoto called for integrating circular economy metrics into green transition assessments and harmonizing regulations across ASEAN. She highlighted ongoing UNDP projects in Hue, plastic waste reduction in tourism, and improved livelihoods for waste workers. Yamamoto proposed establishing regional pilot zones to cultivate circular value chains.
Written by urgent.news from SGGP English Edition Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
