World MSME Day 2024
WHEN: 27 June 2024 I TIME: 15:00 – 16:30 (Bangkok Time) I Platform: ZOOM I Register HERE
Background
The transition towards Circular Economy (CE) in Southeast Asia has gained momentum since the adoption of the 2021 ASEAN Circular Economy Framework, and national and/or thematic strategies and action plans in several Member States. Moreover, forward looking, innovative businesses and other organisations have started to adopt circular economy practices and techniques, which in turn are catalysing business action towards the regional circular economy transition in Southeast Asia.
The EU 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 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 Technical Advisories (TAs) under the EU SWITCH-Asia PSC works to mobilize business action for circular economy in ASEAN, which is being implemented at the request of the ASEAN Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Network. Over the past 10 months, extensive business engagements around ASEAN were conducted and this has resulted in a shared and unifying understanding of the business agenda for circular economy, supported by the documentation of practical business cases.
More than thirty business examples have been curated covering Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, and this set is expanding. Many of these are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including both technology and social driven start up whereas others are well-established businesses. These business cases are truly inspirational, and indeed have already galvanized the interest of other businesses and business membership organizations to further advance the Circular Economy in ASEAN.
With the importance ASEAN has given to business participation in the implementation of the 2021 ASEAN Circular Economy Framework, SWITCH Asia PSC is co-hosting a commemorative webinar on business action on circular economy on the occasion of World MSME Day. This will include the formal launch of these ASEAN Circular Economy business cases, learnings from businesses on their experiences and discussion of practical ways for a potential follow up business-led and ASEAN-centric Circular Economy initiative.
The webinar will discuss the scope, benefits, and experiences of business leadership and action on the Circular Economy (CE) in Southeast Asia. It will further discuss and explore how to support country partners and stakeholders towards potential collective action and better knowledge management on CE through business leadership and action. The session will therefore reflect on current experiences and emerging insights from the Technical Advisory (TA) on Business Action for Circular Economy in ASEAN and will present the emerging scalable business CE examples/tools showcasing businesses moving towards circular practices such as sustainable sourcing of raw materials, avoidance of waste and harmful inputs at all stages of production water and energy efficiency, and recycling/ reuse or remanufacture. The session will also discuss on how to further catalyze CE business initiatives in the region through potential follow up initiatives.
Objectives:
- Discuss how Circular Economy (CE) is being understood and applied through business practices in ASEAN
- Inform participants of emerging insights on business commitment and action towards CE derived from the Southeast Asian business cases
- In country learning and gathering of insights on how policies can support CE business practices
- Explore possible collective action towards business action on CE.
Speakers
Zinaida Fadeeva, Team Leader, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component
Zinaida Fadeeva is the Team Leader of the Policy Support Component of the SWITCH-Asia Programme. Zinaida has over 25 years leading international professional experience in policy for and practice of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and Education for Sustainable Development, amongst others working with the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Studies of Sustainability (UNU-IAS). Her work has focused on diverse topics such as tourism, plastics, construction, small and medium enterprises, procurement and lifestyle. Zinaida has worked extensively with governments, private sector, international organisations and academia in East, South East, South and Central Asia.
Thomas Thomas, CEO ASEAN Corporate Social Responsibility Network (ACN)
Thomas played an integral role in the set-up of ASEAN Corporate Social Responsibility Network (ACN) in 2010 and as CEO, continues to provide oversight and strategic direction for the organisation. ACN was established to promote and enable responsible business conduct in ASEAN Member States. ACN is the responsible and inclusive business champion with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. They developed a Code for Responsible and Inclusive Business and is building up the ASEAN Responsible and Inclusive Business Alliance (ARAIBA) to be the region’s network of businesses supporting responsible business conduct. Thomas is driving this initiative. He has extensive experience in CSR and responsible business conduct, serving on various initiatives in the region and globally. He lead the baseline research on Sustainable Consumption and Production in 2020. Prior to ACN, he was the founding Executive Director of the Singapore Compact for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), now operating as the Global Compact Network Singapore. Thomas had been active with trade unions, co-operatives, the consumer movement and social enterprises and also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore.
Rene van Berkel, Senior Circular Economy Expert for the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component
Dr René Van Berkel was formerly the Representative and Head of the Regional Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in India. In this role he was responsible for industry and government advocacy and coordination of UNIDO technical assistance portfolio on inclusive and sustainable industrial development, covering energy and resource efficiency, renewable energy, innovation, digitalization and circularity and MSME development. Previously he served amongst others in thematic leadership roles on resource efficient and cleaner production in UNIDO and as Professor of Cleaner Production at Curtin University of Technology in Australia. René has a three decade track record of pioneering and implementing SCP techniques, practices and policies in manufacturing and other productive sectors in Asia (including India, Indonesia, China, Viet Nam, Bangladesh and Myanmar) and globally. He currently serves as Senior Circular Economy Expert for the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component.
Gil Gonzales, Executive Director, ASEAN Business Advisory Council
Gil L. Gonzales is currently the Executive Director of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council created by the ASEAN Leaders in 2013 to help build and promote the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) under the AEC Strategic Blueprint 2025. His role is to help the Council serve its mandate of providing the voice of business through policy recommendations to the ASEAN Leaders and Economic Ministers and other relevant Ministers down to the different working ASEAN sectoral bodies and committees to translate the recommendations to execution mode and undertake concrete joint projects. His other expertise covers the areas of corporate governance, risk management, strategic and corporate planning, human resource and change management. He served as Vice President for ASEAN Affairs and Corporate Governance and Risk Management at the SM Investments Corporation, one of the biggest conglomerates in the Philippines from 2010-2020. He also held various executive positions in key private and government institutions.
Alisara Sivayathorn, CEO Sivatel Bangkok Hotel
Alisara Sivayathorn, the forward-thinking 3rd generation CEO of Sivatel Bangkok Hotel, is spearheading a revolutionary rebranding initiative rooted in the sufficiency economy philosophy for regeneration. Positioned as a transformative force for positive societal change, she envisions the hotel as a role model for regenerative hospitality. Alisara prioritizes energy-saving initiatives, fosters a happy workplace for staff, ensures exceptional guest service, and champions local farmers by sourcing organic ingredients. Her commitment extends to co-creating regenerative food systems and achieving zero waste to landfill by 2024, notably through an innovative zero-food waste management system that feeds Black Soldier Fly larvae, which are then used to feed organic chickens. This closed-loop system earned the hotel the Food Waste Free Champion award from PATA and SWITCH-Asia last year. Recognized as Asia’s Top Outstanding Woman Marketeer in 2023, Alisara’s visionary leadership is reshaping luxury hospitality by integrating regeneration and excellence, setting a new standard for the industry and inspiring other hotels to embrace regenerative practices.
Agenda
Time |
Topic |
Lead
|
15:00 – 15:10 |
Welcome Remarks: “EU’s commitment to supporting ASEAN Businesses particularly MSMEs in the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and circular economy” |
Thibault Portevin, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Indonesia and ASEAN |
15:10 – 15:20 |
Supporting MSMEs, the backbone of ASEAN’s economy, by promoting productivity, technology, and innovation towards circularity |
Joanne Tan, Deputy Managing Director, Industry Enterprise Singapore and Chair of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee for MSMEs 2024 (TBC) |
15:20 – 15:30 |
Presentation of the TA on Business Action for Circular Economy in ASEAN |
Zinaida Fadeeva, Team Leader, SWITCH-Asia PSC |
15:30 – 15:45 |
Introduction towards a unifying framework for action on circular economy in ASEAN |
Rene VAN BERKEL, Senior Expert (circular economy), SWITCH-Asia PSC |
15:45 – 16:05 |
Fireside chat with selected business cases
|
Moderated by Thomas THOMAS, CEO ASEAN CSR Network and Senior Expert, SWITCH Asia PSC |
16:05 – 16:15 |
Mobilising Business Action in ASEAN towards responsible and inclusive business conduct as foundation for circular economy |
Gil Gonzales, Executive Secretary, ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) TBC |
16:15 – 16:25 |
Discussion and feedback
|
Moderated by Thomas THOMAS, CEO ASEAN CSR Network and senior expert SWITCH Asia PSC |
16:25 – 16:30 |
Closing reflections and next steps |
Rene VAN BERKEL, Senior Expert (circular economy), SWITCH-Asia PSC |