New Delhi, September 13 (IANS). India is going to host the 'World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026' for the first time in South Asia. This prestigious global event will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 15 to 18 September 2026. The theme of the event is “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity”, which aims to promote sustainable development, better use of resources and green economy.
According to an official statement issued on Sunday, the forum is a global platform for cross-sector partnerships with the aim of promoting circular finance and advancing innovation for circularity. The forum will be jointly inaugurated by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, in which many dignitaries from national and international level will also participate.
More than 2,000 delegates from more than 65 countries are expected to attend this global conference. These will include industry leaders, entrepreneurs, startup founders, researchers, policy makers, academicians, investors and experts related to social change.
The objective of the Forum is to showcase India's efforts to promote circular economy on the global stage and strengthen international cooperation through enhancing engagement with countries in the Global South, encouraging circular finance, attracting private investment and strengthening partnerships across sectors.
The main event to be held on 15th and 16th September will see 4 Plenary Sessions and 16 thematic parallel sessions covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), employment generation, energy production, financial solutions, good governance, sustainable products, industrial innovation, startup ecosystem and youth leadership.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in the statement that circular economy is not limited to environmental protection only, but it can also become the basis of new economic possibilities, employment opportunities and sustainable industrial development.
An international exhibition will also be organized during the forum, in which more than 125 national and international exhibitors will participate, the statement said. Here, practical solutions and investment-ready innovations related to circular economy developed by startups, industries and technical institutions will be showcased. This exhibition can prove to be an important platform to connect industries and investors with new technologies and business opportunities.
During the program, the Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10 YFP) Board meeting will also be held in Gandhinagar. Recently, India has assumed the responsibility of co-chairman of this board, which reflects the country's growing global role in promoting sustainable production and consumption.
Apart from this, on September 17 and 18, around 80 accelerator sessions will be organized online, hybrid and face-to-face by partner organizations from across the world, which will discuss topics related to innovation, investment and policy.
–IANS
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