EIP Assessment Training: Building Local Capacity for Sustainable Industrial Development

EIP Assessment Training: Building Local Capacity for Sustainable Industrial Development

Tashkent, July 1–2, 2025

As part of the UNIDO-led "Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) in Uzbekistan" project, a two-day EIP Assessment Training was held online on July 1–2, 2025, with participation from national experts and representatives of key stakeholder institutions. The training aimed to enhance national capacities in assessing industrial parks based on the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks. 

The training was organized within the framework of the UNIDO project “Introduction of Eco-Industrial Parks in Uzbekistan”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH..

The training delivered by international EIP Expert, Branco Dunjic, aimed to build national capacity for applying the International Framework for EIPs (UNIDO, 2021) to assess and monitor the progress of industrial zones transitioning toward EIP models. It focused on equipping participants with the knowledge and practical tools necessary to evaluate economic, environmental, social, and management performance indicators of industrial parks based on EIP criteria.

The training brought together a diverse group of stakeholders of 17 (76% men, 24% women)  from key institutions involved in Uzbekistan’s industrial and environmental development. Participants included representatives from:

• The Ministry of Economy and Finance – the main national counterpart and strategic stakeholder of the EIP Project

• Representatives of the GIZ

• National research and academic institutions such as the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology, Fergana Polytechnic Institute, Tashkent State Transport University, and the Research Institute of Environment and Nature Conservation Technologies

• Representatives of the Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Energy Problems

• Private sector stakeholders and energy-related organizations including LLC ENERGY MEGA NORM, LLC VELTRAN ENERGY, and the Association of Renewable Energy Sources and Alternative Fuels

This broad participation ensured that discussions and exercises were grounded in the practical realities of Uzbekistan’s industrial zones and aligned with national policy priorities.

The workshop covered the following key topics:

• Overview of the EIP concept and the global policy framework

• The structure and methodology of the EIP Assessment Tool

• Baseline data collection, scoring system, and interpretation of results

• Lessons learned from pilot assessments in Uzbekistan and other countries

Interactive sessions included demonstrations of assessment processes, hands-on exercises using actual pilot zone data, and discussions on challenges and opportunities for future EIP assessments.

The training equipped participants with a solid understanding of the EIP Assessment Framework and its practical application. The knowledge gained will enable them to independently conduct assessments of other industrial zones across Uzbekistan in alignment with the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks.

As a follow-up, assessments of the pilot zones—Urgut FEZ and Fergana Mechanic SIZ—will be shared with guidance from national and international experts. These assessments will inform tailored action plans and help track progress toward EIP transformation in Uzbekistan’s industrial zones.