Bangkok, Thailand - October 27–29, 2025 – The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) took part in the 7th SWITCH-Asia Annual Meeting, held under the theme “Scaling Up the Circular Economy in Asia: Bridging Policy, Practice, and Investments through the EU Global Gateway.”
The event gathered policy makers, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society to advance the circular economy transition across Asia.
CAREC contributed to the dialogue by sharing regional perspectives on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the transition towards circularity in Central Asia. During the event Valeriya Orlova, CAREC’s Education for Sustainable Development Programme Manager, emphasized the growing momentum for circular economy initiatives in Central Asia through the SWITCH-Asia programme.
“SWITCH-Asia in Central Asia serves as a catalyst for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy integration. By connecting local practices with regional and global frameworks, we are helping to create an enabling environment for sustainable business models that can scale across borders,” said Valeriya Orlova.
CAREC’s participation underscored the organization’s long-standing partnership with the European Union in promoting SCP policies, circular economy approaches, and climate-resilient growth in the region. Through its engagement, CAREC continues to facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building for policymakers and practitioners in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The SWITCH-Asia Annual Meeting also featured sessions on policies and practices driving circular economy transitions, investment opportunities through the EU Global Gateway, and regional leadership in advancing sustainable value chains. By bringing Central Asia’s voice to this international platform, CAREC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting innovation and cooperation for a greener, more circular future.
Additional information:
Valeriya Orlova - Manager of the “Education for Sustainable Development” programme, CAREC, esd@carececo.com
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