The Director General of DG Environment, Mr. Daniel Calleja, will lead a company mission to boost Circular Economy in Singapore and Malaysia on 5 - 12 June 2019. During the mission, there will be several business meetings including B2B between companies that will provide to businesses and investors the opportunity to identify cooperation, technology exchanges and business opportunities. Deadline for submission is 30 April 2019.
Should you be interested to participate to one or another mission or both, please confirm your intention directly to DG Environment responsible Veronique.Hyeulle@ec.europa.eu putting in copy Marco.Rubinato@ec.europa.eu, responsible for this action in EASME A2.
Developing a circular economy is essential to foster sustainable economic growth and create new jobs. The attractiveness and the necessity of the circular economy model lies in the fact that it offers solutions to the volatile prices of inputs, the issues of security of supply for certain crucial raw materials and the increasing costs of managing waste appropriately while minimising the negative environmental impacts associated with the current linear production model. Increased resource efficiency and circular economy solutions will improve the competitiveness of companies and create new growth opportunities in green markets domestically and abroad.
The South East Asia region is facing a major challenge in keeping the delicate balance of environmental sustainability and economic development. The region is endowed with rich natural resources, but is highly populated. Increased population and rapid economic growth have had negative environmental consequences. Urban issues are especially prominent in megacities such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Singapore has rapidly developed as an Asian Tiger economy, based on external trade and its skilled workforce. It has however so far maintained a high standard of environmental quality. Conscious of the need to put in place effective and efficient waste management systems, Singapore has designated 2019 as the Year Towards Zero Waste. Singapore is the largest trading and investment partner of the EU in the region and the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement signed in October 2018 are the cornerstones of our economic ties.
As an emerging economy, Malaysia is an important partner for the EU. Malaysia is the EU's second largest trade partner in the South East Asia region. Malaysia’s rapid industrialization supported by foreign investment has however resulted in pollution problems that particularly affect urban areas.
The Mission will begin in Singapore on Wednesday 5 June with meetings with national and local authorities allowing to introduce the EU participants
and to get insights on Singapore's needs and concerns on environment and sustainable development and on challenges of doing business in Singapore. This Mission will be organised back-to-back with the Ecosperity Week, gathering global business leaders, policy-makers, investors, entrepreneurs and academia to drive action on sustainable development and the Innovate4Climate conference (I4C) which focusses on climate finance, climate investment, and climate markets. I4C is also a platform that brings together business, finance, policy, and technology leaders to accelerate action on financing climate-smart development. Business meetings, including B2B, between Singapore and European businesses will provide businesses and investors the opportunity
to identify cooperation on technology exchanges and business opportunities.
On 7 June late afternoon, our business delegation will travel from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian leg of the Circular Economy Mission will begin in Kuala Lumpur on Monday 10lh June. A conference as well as meetings with key circular economy leaders and Malaysian authorities are foreseen on 10th - 111,1 June. The Enhanced Regional EUASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI) will also organize a workshop on circular economy on 12th June. E-READI aims at supporting ASEAN regional integration processes. It is an instrument, which facilitates EU-ASEAN dialogue on common issues, including environment.
This would be an amazing opportunity to be introduced to policy makers, investors and potential local partners and/or customers, and to present successful companies managing EIC projects in this field.
Should you be interested to participate to one or another mission or both, please confirm your intention directly to DG Environment responsible Veronique.Hyeulle@ec.europa.eu putting in copy Marco.Rubinato@ec.europa.eu, responsible for this action in EASME A2. Please do not hesitate to contact them for any further information. Take into account that the deadline for submission is 30 April 2019.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.