Webinar 2 - Green Financing and Investment for Circularity in Southeast Asia

Green investments in Southeast Asia reached US$8 billion in 2024, marking a 43% year-on-year increase, according to the Southeast Asia Green Economy report. The Philippines accounted for 16% of total private green investments that went into the region, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country's sustainability agenda. This webinar explores how green financing and sustainable investments can accelerate the transition to circular economy (CE) practices in Southeast Asia and the Philippines. It highlights financing mechanisms, incentive schemes and blended finance models that can promote circular economy (CE) initiatives and encourage public–private partnerships. The session features insights from development banks and partners who support investment pipelines and policy development, including initiatives in the region that establish a taxonomy for the circular economy. Finally, the webinar highlights how EU–ASEAN cooperation, including development partners and financing institutions, can mobilise sustainable investments, support policy development and enable the adoption of green technologies. We thank our excellent speakers for their valuable contributions! Agenda: 01:22 – Official Welcome by Tsvetomir Svilenov, European Union Delegation to the Philippines 11:52 – Keynote Presentation by Nicole Xuenan Zheng, International Finance Corporation 32:00 – Panel Discussion with • Ellen Joyce Suficiencia, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • Nguyen Trong Hanh, Institute for Strategies and Policies of Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE), Viet Nam • Akash Singh, SAGANA 01:06:00 – Q&A __________________________________________________________________ EU Webinar Series on Circular Economy in Southeast Asia The circular economy has gained significant momentum in Southeast Asia given its potential to decouple economic growth from resource use while creating new jobs, unlocking investment opportunities, and enhancing regional competitiveness. Southeast Asian countries continuously adopt circular economy principles and practices in policies, business models, financing, and community engagement that fit diverse local contexts while advancing shared regional goals. The EU Webinar Series on Circular Economy in Southeast Asia aims to serve as a strategic platform for regional dialogue and knowledge exchange between stakeholders from Southeast Asia and the European Union (EU), exploring how government, private sector, civil society, and academic stakeholders can co-create policies, financing mechanisms, and cross-border partnerships to scale up circular economy implementation across Southeast Asia. This webinar series is implemented by GIZ through the European Union-Philippines Green Economy Partnership and Go Circular projects in collaboration with the PREVENT Waste Alliance. About the organisers Funded by a P3.67 billion (€60 million) grant from the European Union, the European Union-Philippines Green Economy Partnership is a priority programme under the Global Gateway initiative – the European strategy engaging with partners globally and promoting investments around shared priorities such as the transition to a green economy. Led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, this priority programme of the European Union in the Philippines links European and Filipino partners from the private sector and the local government to foster a circular economy while sustaining economic growth that benefits all Filipinos. The Policy and Alliances component of the programme – co-funded with a €12 million grant from the European Union and a €1 million contribution from the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety and implemented by GIZ Philippines and DENR-Environmental Management Bureau – supports policy development and fosters strong partnerships. The Global Programme Go Circular collaborates with partners from business, government, and civil society on various aspects of the circular economy. The goal is to maintain the value of products, materials, and resources for as long as possible. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by European Union (EU). It operates in Colombia, Zambia, Viet Nam, as well as in Eastern and Southern Africa. On the global level, Go Circular hosts the Secretariat of the PREVENT Waste Alliance. Initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the PREVENT Waste Alliance is a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together more than 700 member organisations from the private sector, academia, civil society, and public institutions. PREVENT’s mission is to advance the circular economy in low- and middle-income countries by minimising waste, eliminating pollutants, and maximising the reuse of resources in the economy worldwide.