India is set to host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur from March 3 to 5, 2025. The event will focus on the theme “Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific.”
Established by the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) in 2009, the Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum serves as a platform to help governments in the Asia-Pacific region integrate 3R and circularity into their policies. The last Forum was hosted by Cambodia in 2023, while India previously hosted the eighth edition in Indore in 2018.
Announced by Union Minister Manohar Lal during a curtain-raiser event at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, the 12th forum is expected to welcome over 500 international and domestic participants. The three-day event will feature plenary sessions, country-specific discussions, theme-based roundtables, and networking opportunities.
A dedicated ‘India Pavilion’ will highlight the country’s progress in the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) and circular economy sectors. Exhibits from key government ministries and national missions will showcase sustainable development initiatives. Interactive sessions such as the ‘Ministers & Ambassadors Roundtable Dialogue,’ ‘Mayors’ Dialogue,’ and ‘Policy Dialogue’ will foster collaboration, alongside the signing of agreements under the CITIIS 2.0 program. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) will launch a compendium featuring over 100 best practices during the event.
The Forum will also host an international ‘3R trade and technology exhibition’ with participation from over 40 Indian and Japanese businesses and start-ups. This platform will promote innovative solutions supporting circularity and 3R principles. Additionally, waste-to-wealth initiatives led by NGOs and self-help groups across India will be showcased, promoting sustainability-driven entrepreneurship and community engagement.
The event will conclude with the adoption of the ‘Jaipur Declaration’ (2025-34), aimed at guiding Asia-Pacific countries in transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy. Building on the ‘Hanoi Declaration’ (2013-23), this framework will assist countries in developing policies that promote resource efficiency. The Declaration is voluntary and non-binding.
The 2025 Forum is led by the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, UN ESCAP, UNCRD, UNDSDG, and UNDESA, with support from the Government of Rajasthan. Participants will include representatives from 38 member countries, 15 Indian government ministries, states and union territories, over 60 cities, more than 40 businesses and start-ups, and approximately 120 speakers.
