The festival at the National Museums of Kenya addresses the growing plastic pollution crisis by demonstrating practical, culturally rooted solutions that create jobs, reduce environmental harm, and cut the billions governments spend on clean up, incineration, and health costs associated with throwaway plastic culture.

KEY EVENTS:

1. MEDIA BRIEFING

Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Venue: National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi

2. REFILL AND REUSE FESTIVAL DETAILS

Day 1 – Policy Dialogues
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Program Highlights:

• Media Briefing
• Panel Discussions
• Refill and Reuse Exhibition

Day 2 – Public Festival: “Experience, Refill, Reuse: A Sustainable Lifestyle for All”
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Target Audience: General public, families, schools, artists, innovators

Program Highlights:

• Hands-on refill stations and zero-waste exhibitions
• Children’s upcycling art competitions
• Live music performances and poetry sessions
• Storytelling circles and interactive refill challenges with prizes
• Demonstrations of traditional African reuse practices

Admission: Free and open to the public

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Calling India “a land of entrepreneurs,” he urged for policies and opportunities that give innovators the freedom to channel their energy and vision into driving the country’s growth.

He highlighted that India’s progress depends on breaking barriers to education for youth, expanding financial independence for women, and ensuring nutrition and values for every child to strengthen the nation’s foundation.

Agarwal also emphasized the need to responsibly harness India’s abundant natural resources and unlock its potential in defense and electronics manufacturing, sectors he said can propel the country to global leadership.

“By unleashing these strengths, India will not only achieve self-reliance but also emerge as a global hub of innovation and resilience,” he noted. Concluding on an optimistic note, he added: “With collective determination, India will achieve its goal of becoming one of the strongest and most prosperous nations by 2047.”

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• Bank’s shareholders have granted recipient country status to Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria
• Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal are undergoing the membership process
• Iraq is in the process of becoming a country of operation

The shareholders of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have granted recipient country status to Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria. This will come into effect once the required amendment to the Bank’s founding treaty comes into force in July 2025. The Bank will launch its investments in the three countries shortly thereafter.

The EBRD will bring its distinct private-sector focused, locally based business model to unlock access to finance, promote local businesses and foster sustainable and long-term growth, contributing to the transformation of these three economies.

Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal are undergoing the membership process and, once finalised, will begin proceedings to become countries of operation.

Iraq became a shareholder of the Bank in April 2024 and is in the process of becoming a country of operation.

EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said: “We are delighted to welcome Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria today as countries of operations. We are looking forward to launching our activities there swiftly and establishing official representations in these countries. The EBRD will leverage its financial resources and expertise to boost the countries’ economies and provide new opportunities to their people, complementing the work of existing development partners.”

At the EBRD’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Samarkand, the Board of Governors approved amendments to Article 1 of the Agreement Establishing the EBRD, enabling a limited and incremental expansion of its operations to sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. The required threshold of shareholder acceptance was met in April 2025 with the amendment entering into force three months later (in July 2025).

The EBRD now has 75 national shareholders in addition to the European Union and the European Investment Bank. 

The EBRD supports countries in transition, using a combination of investment, advisory work and policy reform. It focuses on developing the private sector and bringing sustainable change, leaving an enduring legacy for a better future.

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“Envisioning a fully developed nation by the 100th year of our independence, it is crucial that every individual, every community, and every sector realizes its full potential. To achieve this ambitious goal, the cooperative sector must play a significant role,” Athawale emphasized in his keynote address.

Key Proposals:

1. 500 Cooperative Startups: These startups will focus on aspirational districts, harnessing local resources, skills, and ideas to address regional challenges and create economic opportunities.

2. 500 Campus Cooperatives: Youth-centric institutions will be established on campuses to foster innovation in technology, digital services, sustainability, and green energy. These platforms will encourage collaboration and experimentation, enabling students to launch ventures.

3. Cooperative Commodities Exchange: Aimed at empowering farmers and small producers, this exchange will ensure transparent trade, fair pricing, and equitable benefits. It will provide a marketplace to bridge the gap between producers and buyers, boosting rural India’s economic potential.

4. Cooperative Economic Zones: Special zones will be set up to foster economic growth through cooperative-led industries. These zones will focus on sustainable development and inclusive growth, creating job opportunities and promoting rural-urban integration.

Focus on Sustainability, ESG, and the Social and Solidarity Economy:

The Global ESG Conclave also highlighted the importance of creating a Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), which prioritizes social and environmental well-being alongside economic development. The World Cooperation Economic Forum is actively championing this cause by encouraging innovative cooperative-led approaches that contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 10 (reducing inequality).

One such initiative is Coopathon4SDG10, a platform designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving among cooperatives, entrepreneurs, and youth leaders. This initiative aims to generate impactful solutions for reducing inequality and creating inclusive economic opportunities.

During the event, Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of IFFCO and President of the National Cooperative Union of India, emphasized the need for cooperative mechanisms to tackle global challenges like climate change. Binod Anand, Co-Founder of the World Cooperation Economic Forum, highlighted the importance of ESG principles in preparing youth for leadership and sustainability.

Strategic Collaboration:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) and the World Cooperation Economic Forum. This collaboration aims to strengthen agricultural cooperatives, empower rural communities, and promote knowledge exchange across Asia-Pacific.

The World Cooperation Economic Forum continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a global cooperative movement by driving sustainability, fostering inclusive development, and creating pathways for a fairer and more resilient economy. Through initiatives like Coopathon4SDG10 and the SSE model, it is working to transform challenges into opportunities for equitable growth.

The initiatives proposed at the conclave highlight the critical role of the cooperative sector in ensuring that India becomes a developed nation by its centenary of independence in 2047.

—

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NEW DELHI: PwC India launched a report titled “From Sunrise to Sunshine: The Contribution of Online Gaming to the Viksit Bharat Journey and India’s Cultural Power” at the Indian Gaming Convention in New Delhi.

The report shares insights into the evolving global as well as Indian gaming market. It also discusses how gaming is helping India drive the Viksit Bharat journey and elaborates on the various challenges being encountered by gaming companies. The report recommends a set of actions to be executed collectively by gaming companies, gamers, platform providers, governments, and other stakeholders to build a vibrant and responsible gaming ecosystem. 

Manpreet Singh Ahuja, TMT Sector Leader and Chief Digital Officer of PwC India commented, “The influx of capital is creating a significant economic impact on the gaming sector, driving growth and opening up new opportunities across multiple industries. India, with its skilled talent pool and large domestic market, is at a pivotal moment to solidify its position as a global gaming powerhouse. By focusing on skills development, and infrastructure, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, we can unlock the full potential of this industry. It’s essential to nurture a vibrant gaming ecosystem, promote e-sports at the grassroots level, and attract foreign investment. Building responsible gaming practices and robust player protection policies will be crucial to maintaining trust and ensuring the industry’s sustainable growth.”

The Indian gaming landscape, despite facing several challenges, is experiencing a period of steady growth, with the potential to evolve into a dominant force in the global arena. It is fuelled by a potent combination of factors, including a burgeoning young population with high digital fluency, widespread access to affordable mobile data, and a thriving startup ecosystem.

While the global gaming revenues grew from USD 219 billion in 2019 to USD 342 billion in 2023, and are estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% to USD 503 billion by the end of 2028, the total size of the Indian online gaming market was INR 33,000 crore in 2023, estimated to reach INR 66,000 crore, growing at a CAGR of 14.5% between 2023–2028. The realization of this potential value will be heavily dependent on seizing the opportunities while addressing the challenges highlighted in the report.

As per the report, the real money gaming (RMG) market – the largest sub-component of India’s online gaming market – is predicted to reach INR 26,500 crore by 2028. The gaming industry’s growth is also having a transformative impact on the Indian economy, generating an additional 2–3 lakh direct and indirect jobs in the next few years. Global investors see value in this sector and have invested a staggering USD 2.8 billion in investment over the past five years. The growth primarily hinges on the resolution of the taxation issues and regulatory clarity.

The report identifies nine key challenges for the Indian gaming industry and offers strategies to address them. These include regulatory fragmentation, building sustainable business models due to the high GST impact, navigating ethical issues in monetization, and addressing the talent gap. Other challenges are balancing stakeholder interests, managing player engagement and mental health, creating culturally relevant games with global appeal, changing societal perceptions of gaming careers, and tackling illegal gambling and ads. Mitigating these challenges is crucial for the industry’s sustainable growth.

To fully harness the immense potential of the Indian gaming industry, PwC recommends enacting a robust, national-level regulatory framework for online gaming. This framework should be accompanied by the formation of an interdepartmental committee to address concerns. The report also envisaged the need for a clarification on GST demands for the period between 2017-2023 to ensure a steady flow of investments and promote ease of doing business in the sector.

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WHEF 2024 is part of the annual Conference and Expo held by the Forum to foster economic development and societal empowerment within the global Hindu community. The previous editions were attended by thought leaders and policymakers like Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister; Rt. Hon. Priti Patel, British Home Secretary; Shri Ajay Piramal, Chairman of Piramal Group; The Hon. Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius; and others.

Over three days of WHEF 2024, attendees will engage in plenary sessions addressing a range of critical topics. It will feature three grand panel sessions, six plenary sessions, and twenty-four parallel sessions across six halls. Nearly 1,000 participants are expected to attend these sessions, which will provide in-depth explorations of specialized topics, encouraging detailed discussions and knowledge sharing.

A key highlight will be the networking sessions and a Shark Tank-style event, aimed at fostering business connections and innovative ideas. The expo, which will run throughout the forum, will showcase leading domestic and international companies. With many prominent Bharatiya companies participating, this year’s expo is set to reach new heights, featuring a broad array of firms eager to present their products and services and expand their global footprint.

WHEF 2024 will start with a grand inaugural session on December 13th, featuring a series of sessions and keynote speeches. WHEF will conduct a range of activities, including lectures, panel discussions, workshops, and an EXPO with the vision ‘Think in the Future, for the Future, and Viksit Bharat.’ Rooted in the shared values and collective strengths of the global Hindu community, WHEF is dedicated to advancing economic development and societal empowerment. Following successful annual forums in cities such as Hong Kong, New Delhi, London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Bangkok, and various regional economic hubs worldwide, WHEF is set to host an important conference in Mumbai this December,” said Swami Vigyananand of WHEF.

This year, Chief Ministers, Central Ministers, and State Ministers related to finance, business, and the economy, as well as Chairpersons, Managing Directors, and CEOs of leading industrial, technology, and financial companies, have been invited to WHEF 2024 in Mumbai. Their presence is expected to enhance the event’s significance and its role in shaping the Bharat economy.

The sectors represented include Defence and Aerospace, Construction, Steel Industry, Cement Industry, Automobile, Electric Vehicles and Mobility, Transport, Coal, Minerals and Mining, Conventional Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution, Renewable Energy, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Health and Wellness, Medical Device Technology, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Agriculture, Banking and Finance, Insurance, Startups and Ecosystems, Technology, Telecommunications, Electronics, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Film and Television, and Hospitality and Tourism. Additional plenary sessions will cover regional opportunities in Maharashtra, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.

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JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA: The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Ak Finansal Kiralama A.Ş. (AKLease) have entered a landmark agreement to bolster economic growth in Türkiye. This new EUR 13.65 million Commodity Murabaha Facility is designed to support private sector projects, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This strategic partnership highlights ICD’s dedication to fostering private sector development within its member countries. The facility provided by ICD will enable AKLease to fund a range of private sector projects, empowering entrepreneurs to launch and scale ventures that will significantly impact Türkiye’s economy.

AKLease, a subsidiary of Akbank and a prominent player in Türkiye’s financial leasing market, will leverage this facility to extend financial support to eligible projects. The collaboration is a testament to AKLease’s commitment to driving national development through innovative and long-term leasing solutions.

Key Highlights of the Agreement:

• Funding Amount: EUR 13.65 Million
• Target Sector: Private sector projects, especially SMEs
• Objective: Enhance the SME landscape in Türkiye by providing essential resources for business growth and development
• Strategic Alignment: Supports ICD’s Private Sector Channel Development Strategy

The agreement underscores the critical role of private-sector financing in economic development. The initiative will help bridge funding gaps for SMEs by facilitating access to financial resources, driving innovation and fostering a more robust and diverse economy.

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Oussama Kaissi, the Secretary-General of AMAN UNION, emphasized the vital role of the Union in fostering economic stability and growth through collaborative efforts. “Our meeting today not only addresses the crucial aspects of our existing programs but also sets the stage for welcoming new members into our Union. This expansion is a testament to our collective commitment to enhancing economic resilience and prosperity across the region,”

Adding to this, His Excellency Eng Saad Alkhalb, CEO of Saudi EXIM Bank, expressed his delight: “We are glad to host this significant meeting and commend the Union Executive Council for their exemplary efforts. We eagerly welcome the invaluable contributions from all member ECAs as we discuss avenues to enhance cooperation and drive the development of the Export Credit Insurance Industry at our region. This meeting is an important step for the local, regional & int’l connectivity of trade & transport networks among member countries. Saudi EXIM Bank is keen to put forward the integration agenda with all ECAs in the region and beyond”.

The meeting delved into several key areas, including the progress of the Union’s initiatives in training and development, performance enhancement, and the strategic operations of its specialized committees. These discussions underscore the Union’s proactive approach to addressing the dynamic needs of its membership and the broader economic landscape.

Further, the Executive Council laid out comprehensive plans for the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Union, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024. This event is expected to bring together top leaders and decision-makers to chart the future course of economic cooperation in the region. Mr. Abdullah Alsabeeh, Director-General of Dhaman, Chairman of the AMAN Union Executive Council indicated that this meeting addressed several topics of high importance for the members of Aman Union. The meeting discussed Academic and professional training courses for the junior and middle management staff of our member ECAs, the upgrading of the Aman Union Database as well as a plan for the establishment of a dedicated Secretariat General for the Union” said Mr. Alsabeeh.

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This MoU was signed on the sidelines of the IsDB Group Annual Meeting 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by Mr. Oussama Kaissi, CEO of ICIEC, and and Mr. Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of AZPROMO.  The signing ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan and IsDB/ICIEC Governor, and H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICIEC.

This partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to create new opportunities for growth and prosperity. By working together, ICIEC and AZPROMO are committed to unlocking the full potential of Azerbaijan’s economy and paving the way for impactful investments and a brighter future.

Oussama Kaissi commented on the partnership, stating, “We are filled with optimism to announce our partnership with AZPROMO, an initiative that promises to revolutionize the economic landscape of Azerbaijan. This MoU serves as a testament to our mutual dedication to promoting sustainable development and economic diversification through the facilitation of foreign investment and the promotion of exports. We eagerly anticipate a productive collaboration that will undoubtedly yield substantial benefits for Azerbaijan.”

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The inaugural session on the theme ‘Promoting Economic Integration in South Asia’ was chaired by Amb. Gautam Bambawale, Convenor, AED 2024, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan and former Ambassador to China and Bhutan. Panelists in this session included  Amb. Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, Government of India, along with Amb. Sewa Lamsal, Foreign Secretary, Nepal, and Amb. Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Secretary, Bangladesh.

Dr. S.Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, Government of India in a video address said that this edition of Asia Economic Dialogue focuses very appropriately on the Geoeconomic challenges of our times. Today these fall into three categories. One is the supply chain challenge created by the globalization era,  the second is a technology challenge which grows by the day given our reliance on it for more aspects of our daily life and the third is the challenge of concentrations stemming from the nature of globalization.  These three phenomena are coming together particularly impact fully when considering the evolution of critical and emerging technologies. To create a safer, secure, and cooperative world, we need greater international cooperation.

He added that we must build deep national strengths during the Amrit Kaal that will drive the transition towards becoming a developed economy. This is the vision of the Modi Government and our initiatives and programs of the last decade are aimed at this very end.

Amb. Vinay Mohan Kwatra Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India said that conflicts and associated disruptions require strong mitigation by each country. But Geo Economics in many ways also presents a set of opportunities especially for India. When globally the countries are looking for reliable destinations for supply chains, market access, and capital looking for destinations which can offer strong returns on equity, this has benefitted India.  Post Covid growth patterns tell a story and it is not just of numbers. Combined them with crucial matrices and perception of India and how it translated into evidence and the strongest evidence comes from FDI flows, a large chunk has post covid.  All this comes together in a package that presents a picture of strength, hope and optimism, a picture of evidence-based growth that is not only national but where the international business community sees a lot of hope.

Amb. Seva Lamsel foreign secretary, Nepal said that COVID-19 and conflicts posed difficult times and hampered landlocked economies like Nepal. We had sluggish growth then but now our economy is gaining momentum due to reforms and stringent monetary policy. The energy sector, agriculture, and tourism are in focus. Also, macroeconomic indicators are good and the economy is on the right track.

Amb. Masud Bin Momen, foreign secretary, of Bangladesh, said that intra-regional trade in South Asia is one of the lowest around 5 percent. Improving connectivity not just physical but ancillary services like customs and others and connecting the dots will create a lot of potential for regional cooperation.

Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, President PIC in his opening remarks said that this is the 8th Asia Economic Dialogue. PIC has become India’s leading policy think tank with strong programs.

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