EU and Asian Cities Advance Circular Economy Cooperation through IURC Mission to Iskandar Malaysia

Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia | 16–19 June 2026

Representatives from European and Asian cities, the European Commission, the EU Foreign Policy Instruments Service, and the IURC Team gathered in Iskandar Malaysia for an advanced cooperation mission dedicated to accelerating collaboration on circular economy, wastewater management and sustainable urban development.

Hosted by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), the mission formed part of the IURC Community of Practice (CoP #5) on Smart Circular Cities – Wastewater, Waste and Sustainable Development and brought together policymakers, technical experts, researchers and practitioners to move beyond knowledge exchange towards the development of concrete pilot projects and long-term cooperation initiatives.

The mission gathered representatives from the cities of Debrecen (Zoltán Pécskay and Dorottya Horváth), Nadezhda Bobcheva (Sofia), Francisco Aranda (Granada) and Sanjay Kulkarni (Pimpri Chinchwad), alongside officials from the European Commission and the IURC programme. The European Union was represented by Viktorija Kaidalova, Programme Manager for Asia-Pacific at the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), and Lutz Köppen, Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO). The mission was coordinated by the IURC team including Boy Joeman, Faii Aksorn and Pablo Gándara, working closely with IRDA officials under the leadership of Kamisah Mohd Ghazali, Head Liveability & Community at IRDA. The programme was hosted and closed by IRDA Chief Executive Yang Berhormat Dato’ Haji Mohd. Noorazam Bin Dato’ Haji Osman.

From Knowledge Exchange to Action

The cooperation mission was designed around a clear objective: transforming dialogue and knowledge sharing into practical cooperation projects capable of supporting cities in their transition towards circular and resource-efficient urban systems.

Opening the programme, IRDA and IURC representatives highlighted the growing urgency of addressing urban water management, waste generation and resource efficiency challenges through integrated and innovative approaches. Participants shared experiences from their respective cities, presenting ongoing initiatives and challenges related to circular economy, wastewater management, climate resilience and sustainable urban development.

The city presentations revealed strong commonalities despite different local contexts. Representatives from Debrecen, Sofia, Granada and Pimpri Chinchwad described how their cities are working to improve environmental performance, strengthen climate resilience and accelerate the transition towards circular urban systems. The discussions demonstrated the value of international peer learning and the importance of building partnerships capable of translating successful experiences into replicable solutions.

Circular Water Systems: A Key Urban Priority

A central focus of the mission was the development of innovative approaches to urban water management and wastewater treatment.

During dedicated dialogue sessions, experts from Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and industry partners shared experiences on wastewater treatment, resource recovery and circular water management. Participants explored how wastewater infrastructure can contribute not only to environmental protection but also to broader circular economy objectives through water reuse, energy recovery and resource optimisation.

Discussions centred on the development of an Integrated Urban Circular Water Knowledge Platform, a collaborative initiative designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, technical cooperation and capacity building among participating cities. Delegates identified priority areas for future cooperation, including wastewater treatment technologies, digital monitoring systems, climate adaptation measures, water reuse and integrated governance approaches.

The mission also included a technical visit to the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) Pelangi Indah, where participants gained first-hand insights into the operation of advanced wastewater management facilities and explored practical examples of circular water management in action.

For many delegates, the visit demonstrated the importance of viewing wastewater as a resource rather than a waste stream, opening new opportunities for cities seeking to improve environmental performance while enhancing urban resilience.

Building the Integrated Circular Economy Lab for Cities

A second major theme of the mission focused on the creation of the Integrated Circular Economy Lab for Cities (IM-ICEL), an initiative being developed by Iskandar Malaysia to serve as a platform for innovation, experimentation and collaboration on circular economy solutions.

Presentations from the Iskandar Puteri City Council and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) explored how local authorities, universities, businesses and international partners can work together to accelerate innovation and support the practical implementation of circular economy projects.

Participants discussed the essential building blocks of a successful urban circular economy ecosystem, including governance structures, stakeholder engagement, financing mechanisms, research partnerships and demonstration projects. The discussions highlighted the need to bridge the gap between research and implementation while creating opportunities for cities to test and scale innovative solutions.

The exchanges underscored a shared understanding that achieving circular economy objectives requires not only technological innovation but also strong partnerships, institutional capacity and long-term commitment.

Technical Learning through Site Visits

A defining feature of the mission was the combination of strategic dialogue with practical learning opportunities.

In addition to the wastewater treatment facilities, delegates undertook technical visits to the Seelong Sanitary Landfill and the Johor Integrated Scheduled Waste Hub, currently under development. These visits provided valuable insights into integrated waste management systems, landfill operations, resource recovery opportunities and future approaches to hazardous waste management.

Participants compared experiences from Europe, India and Malaysia regarding waste reduction strategies, recycling systems, infrastructure financing and public engagement. The discussions highlighted the growing importance of integrated approaches that address the full lifecycle of materials and resources while supporting climate objectives and sustainable urban development.

The mission also included a cultural and heritage programme in Johor Bahru, enabling delegates to better understand the local context and development trajectory of Iskandar Malaysia. Through the Johor Bahru Heritage Trail, participants explored the city’s rich multicultural heritage and discussed the role of culture and identity in sustainable urban development.

Co-Creating Future Pilot Projects

One of the most significant achievements of the mission was the collaborative development of future pilot projects.

Through a series of co-creation workshops, mixed teams comprising representatives from all participating cities worked together to identify priority cooperation areas, potential lead cities, implementation partners and funding opportunities. The workshops focused on transforming technical discussions into actionable initiatives capable of generating measurable environmental, social and economic benefits.

The discussions culminated in the development of a cooperation roadmap centred around two flagship initiatives:

• An Integrated Urban Circular Water Knowledge Platform, designed to support technical cooperation and peer learning among cities;
• The Integrated Circular Economy Lab for Cities (IM-ICEL), aimed at accelerating innovation, testing solutions and fostering collaboration between local governments, academia and industry.

Participants agreed that these initiatives provide a strong foundation for continued cooperation and have the potential to become reference platforms for Europe–Asia collaboration on urban circularity.

Strengthening Europe–Asia Urban Cooperation

The mission concluded with a reflection and closing session hosted by IRDA, during which participants reviewed the outcomes of the technical visits, dialogue sessions and co-creation workshops and formally endorsed a roadmap for future collaboration.

In his closing remarks, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Haji Mohd. Noorazam Bin Dato’ Haji Osman, Chief Executive of IRDA, highlighted the importance of international partnerships in accelerating sustainable urban transformation and reaffirmed Iskandar Malaysia’s commitment to serving as a platform for innovation, circular economy solutions and regional cooperation.

Representing the European Union, Viktorija Kaidalova (FPI Asia-Pacific) and Lutz Köppen (DG REGIO) welcomed the progress achieved through the Community of Practice and emphasised the strategic value of city-to-city cooperation in addressing shared global challenges. They noted that the mission had successfully moved beyond knowledge exchange towards the identification of practical collaborative initiatives capable of generating lasting impact.

Representatives from Debrecen, Sofia, Granada, Pimpri Chinchwad and Iskandar Malaysia reflected on the lessons learned during the mission and expressed strong interest in continuing cooperation through the proposed Integrated Urban Circular Water Knowledge Platform and the Integrated Circular Economy Lab for Cities.

Closing the event, Lutz Köppen and Viktorija Kaidalova emphasised that the mission demonstrated the maturity of the IURC Communities of Practice model by transforming dialogue into concrete action. He noted that the pilot project concepts and cooperation roadmap developed in Iskandar Malaysia provide a solid foundation for future Europe–Asia collaboration on circular economy, water management and sustainable urban development. The cooperation visit was closed by IRDA Chief Executive Yang Berhormat Dato’ Haji Mohd. Noorazam Bin Dato’ Haji Osman.

As cities around the world seek innovative pathways towards sustainability and resilience, the Iskandar Malaysia cooperation mission demonstrated the power of international partnerships to bridge local innovation and global challenges. By bringing together expertise from Europe and Asia, the mission not only strengthened professional networks but also laid the groundwork for ongoing pilot projects to support the transition towards smarter, greener and more circular cities.

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