Gandhinagar, September 15 (Daily Kiran) : The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 is set to commence today in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This three-day event aims to promote circular economy initiatives and strengthen international collaboration. The forum will be inaugurated by Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister for Environment, and Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
This marks the first time that South Asia will host the WCEF. The event is organized by several key stakeholders, including India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the Finnish government, and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).
Over 2,000 stakeholders from more than 65 countries will participate, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, policymakers, and academics. The forum aims to foster partnerships across various sectors and enhance engagement with the Global South. It will also facilitate discussions on circular finance and private sector investments, while promoting innovation, digitalization, and technology.
The focus of circularity is on reusing, repairing, and recycling existing materials and products, reintegrating them into the economy as valuable resources. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is leading significant changes in environmental practices and moving towards a modern circular economy.
Other notable attendees at the opening session include Arjunbhai Modhwadia, Gujarat’s Minister of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, and Mikko Kivikoski, the Finnish Ambassador, along with senior officials from both the central and Gujarat governments.
The forum will feature four main sessions and 16 parallel thematic sessions over September 15 and 16, covering topics such as the use of AI, employment opportunities, energy production, finance, governance, sustainable products, industrial solutions, the startup ecosystem, and youth leadership.
Additionally, an expo will showcase practical circular solutions and innovations ready for investment, featuring over 125 national and international exhibitors. Alongside the WCEF, the board of the “10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns” (10 YFP) will hold an in-person meeting today in Gandhinagar. India has recently taken on the co-chair role of the 10 YFP board, underscoring its long-standing leadership in promoting sustainable practices.
On September 17 and 18, global partners will conduct 80 accelerator sessions either online or in a hybrid format, furthering the forum’s objectives.
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