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Steering Committee assesses progress and outlines next steps for Phase II of Uzbekistan’s Eco-Industrial Parks project
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Tashkent, Uzbekistan | 26 June 2026 (online)
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, held the Steering Committee meeting of the project “Introduction of Eco-Industrial Parks in Uzbekistan” on 26 June 2026. The meeting brought together representatives of key ministries, government agencies, industrial zone administrations, project partners and experts to review the progress achieved and discuss the priorities for the next implementation phase.
The meeting was opened by Ms. Tatiana Chernyavskaya, UNIDO Project Manager, who welcomed the participants and emphasized that the Phase I of the project has created a strong foundation for further scaling up the Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) approach in Uzbekistan through technical assessments, policy work, capacity building and pilot demonstration activities.
Representatives of GIZ also highlighted the importance of continued cooperation under the green industrialization agenda and reaffirmed support for Uzbekistan’s transition towards more sustainable, resource-efficient and competitive industrial development.
During the meeting, the key achievements of the previous implementation phase were presented. These included the completion of EIP baseline assessments and action plans for FEZ “Urgut” and SIZ “Mechanic”, the implementation of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) assessments in twenty pilot companies, the preparation of feasibility studies for renewable energy and wastewater treatment solutions, and the development of policy and regulatory proposals to support the institutionalization of EIPs in Uzbekistan.
Special attention was given to the practical results achieved in the pilot zones. The project supported company-level assessments to identify opportunities for reducing energy and water consumption, minimizing waste, improving environmental performance and strengthening industrial cooperation. The results demonstrated that EIP approaches can generate economic, environmental and social benefits for industrial zones and their resident companies.
The meeting also focused on the priorities of the next implementation phase for 2026–2027. The planned activities include continued support to FEZ “Urgut” and SIZ “Mechanic”, further company-level assessments, preparation of investment-oriented business cases, and support for the possible engagement of FEZ “Navoi” as an additional industrial zone. The project will also work on identifying a suitable greenfield or newly developed industrial park where EIP concept development and master planning tools can be applied.
Another important area discussed was the continuation of legal and policy work. Participants emphasized the need to further strengthen the regulatory framework for EIP development, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and align EIP-related measures with national priorities in the areas of green economy, industrial development, energy efficiency and environmental protection.
The Steering Committee also discussed opportunities for strengthening cooperation with national institutions, including the Energy Efficiency Agency, and with international financial institutions. It was noted that organizations such as the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank have shown interest in potential collaboration and investment-related proposals linked to EIP-relevant activities in Uzbekistan. These may include renewable energy, energy efficiency, wastewater treatment, resource efficiency, industrial infrastructure modernization and green transformation of industrial zones.
Participants underlined that the project can play an important role in developing technically sound and financially viable proposals that may support future investment mobilization. Strengthening the connection between technical assessments, policy support and investment planning was identified as a key priority for the next phase.
The Committee agreed to continue coordination among government bodies, pilot zones, project partners and international organizations to ensure the sustainability and replication of project results.
The Eco-Industrial Parks project in Uzbekistan is implemented by UNIDO within the framework of cooperation supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ. The project aims to demonstrate the benefits of eco-industrial approaches for improving resource efficiency, environmental performance, competitiveness and sustainable industrial development in Uzbekistan.
