Conference on Circular Economy

Building on the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and various national circular economy and sustainability strategies of Angola, the Ministry of the Environment of Angola (MINAMB) and its partner UNDP ANGOLA, hosted a conference and a fair fostering dialogues and reflections on the transition to a circular economy in Angola and beyond. The conference covered the entire transition process from design, production, dynamisation, coordination and evaluation, and the transformation from a linear to a circular economy. The fair counted the participation of around 20 companies working in the field of the circular economy.

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At the conference, the Minister of the Environment, Ana Paula de Carvalho, highlighted the significant impact of the waste management sector, which has generated over 20,000 jobs and involves more than 450 licensed companies and numerous associations and cooperatives. The Minister emphasized the potential for increased recycling rates, currently between 7 and 10%, through ongoing projects.

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As part of a panel on the international framework for the circular transition, Arpit Bhutani, COO of Circular Innovation Lab, presented a comprehensive roadmap for implementing circular economy practices in Angola, focusing on economic recovery, environmental protection, and job creation. Arpit highlighted Angola's unique position as a region ready for circularity due to its low ecological footprint and existing infrastructure.