UNIDO and Egypt Host Forum to Promote Eco-Industrial Parks

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, organized a significant forum at the Dusit Thani Hotel Cairo on Monday. The event aimed to foster sustainable industrial development in Egypt by promoting Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs).

This forum is a key component of the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP) Egypt, designed to mobilize national stakeholders and businesses towards transitioning Egyptian Industrial Parks to EIPs.

The forum served as a platform to raise awareness among stakeholders about the benefits of developing EIPs in Egypt and to highlight recent policy achievements. It also engaged the national business sector, encouraging active participation and commitment to the transition process, while promoting sustainable industrial investment among investors and the financial sector.

Various sessions at the forum provided insights into the GEIPP and its role in promoting sustainable industrial development. A roadmap for transitioning Egyptian industrial parks to EIPs was introduced, showcasing successful EIP projects in Egypt.

A dedicated session on financing informed attendees about available options for EIP projects in Egypt, while international experiences highlighted best practices from around the world.

An exhibition area featured participating industrial parks, including Orascom Industrial Park, Robbiki Leather Cluster, and Polaris Parks, facilitating networking opportunities and showcasing successful projects and initiatives.

EIPs offer numerous advantages over conventional industrial parks, such as reduced environmental impact, efficiency gains, community cohesion, access to finance, and enhanced business competitiveness.

The GEIPP-Egypt project, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by UNIDO in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, aims to demonstrate the viability and benefits of EIPs. The project seeks to scale up resource productivity and improve the economic, environmental, and social performance of businesses.

With a total budget of approximately EUR 1.6 million and a duration of three years (2022-2024), the project is being carried out at three industrial parks: Orascom Industrial Park, Polaris Parks, and Robbiki Leather Cluster. Key stakeholders include the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).