V International Circular Economy Forum Peru (FIEC): Building the Ecosystem for a Circular Economy

The European Union in Peru (EU), together with the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) organized the 5th International Circular Economy Forum (FIEC) from September 13 to 15, 2022, to further strengthen alliance and collaboration of Peru and the European Union in sustainable transition and Circular Economy.

The Forum (FIEC) is the largest annual Circular Economy event in Peru, with purpose to address, inspire and energize the public and private sectors, academia and civil society in the promotion and action for a just transition with a territorial approach towards a circular economy in Peru and the region.

The fifth edition of the FIEC featured opening remarks by Mr. Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment and Oceans of the European Union and the participation of experts from the European Union, Germany, Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Slovenia, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, the Netherlands and Sweden.

As part of the opening, Mr. Koen Doens, Director General for International Associations of the European Commission, introduced the Team Europe "Circular Transition" Initiative that coordinates and promotes the actions of public and private European stakeholders in Peru in transition towards a Circular Economy and Sustainable Cities. The result-focused initiative has significant non-reimbursable and reimbursable funds estimated at more than 1,000 million euros.

Mr. Doens also presented the strategy of the Global Gateway of the European Union. It is about Europe's contribution to reducing the global investment gap, promoting smart, clean and secure connections in the digital, energy and transport sectors and strengthening health, education and research systems that work for people.

The Forum further explored three central themes: collaboration networks, circular finance, and circular territories.

Plenary session Circular ecosystem: weaving collaboration networks opened with the inspiring keynote speech by Mrs. Ladeja Godina Košir on the key role of collaboration between the different stakeholders in circular transition with the examples of multistakeholder platforms including the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP), different approaches in stakeholder engagement in the national roadmap process for CE transition and the insights into global CE roadmap initiative by the Chatham House.  The concept of systemic approach to the circular economy (model by Systemiq) and the role of network governance (by Prof. Jacqueline Cramer) was introduced.

During the closing ceremony, the Peruvian Platform for a Circular Economy was launched, with the commitment of the Ministry of Production and the National Society of Industries as leaders of the circular transition in Peru.

Read more about the event here.