On May 15, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Secretariat, along with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), convened an online Accelerator Session titled “RESCUE Initiative in the ECO Region: Goals, Opportunities, and Challenges” on the margins of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025. ECO was represented for the first time in the World Circular Economy Forum, which is the major global forum for circular economy.
The meeting opened with remarks from the ECO Secretary-General, Dr. Asad M. Khan, who highlighted the urgent challenges and opportunities surrounding resource efficiency and regenerative production in the ECO region. He invited all development partners, financial institutions, and technical experts to join in making 2025 the breakthrough year for circular transition in the region.
The session brought together the broad range of stakeholders and leading experts from nine ECO Member States, academia, multilateral entities and international financial institutions (IFIs) to explore the state of affairs, opportunities and challenges in transitioning toward a circular economy in the region. Member State representatives outlined their national priorities, good practices and challenges they encounter while the other participants underscored the need for tailored approaches to waste management, resource efficiency, and sustainable industrial practices.
The session served as a platform to exchange knowledge on the significance of technical assistance, capacity building, policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, and investment strategies needed and the role of IFIs to accelerate circular economy initiatives like RESCUE. Discussions emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, innovation, and public-private partnerships to overcome existing barriers and scale up sustainable practices.
Panelists shared successful case studies from the ECO region and beyond, highlighting effective policies, business models, and technological innovations driving circularity. Participants also identified challenges such as limited infrastructure, financing gaps, and regulatory hurdles, while proposing solutions through policy alignment and stakeholder engagement. Representatives from IFIs discussed funding mechanisms and the relevant risks to reward challenges to attract investment in circular economy projects.
The session concluded with highlighting the importance of a mapping exercise in the region and an announcement of the intention to jointly launch a project to prepare a study for a just transition of the ECO region to a resource-efficient and circular economy.
