Morocco's Commitment to Sustainable Industrial Transition
In a significant move towards enhancing its industrial sustainability, Morocco is taking bold steps with the launch of a call for proposals aimed at supporting the development of eco-industrial parks. This initiative is spearheaded by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The objective is to assemble a pool of national consulting firms that specialize in resource efficiency, cleaner production, and industrial synergies, thereby facilitating a necessary transition within the Kingdom's industrial landscape.
Empowering Local Expertise for Greener Industries
This call for applications is part of the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Program II (GEIPP Morocco), which aims to transform five pilot industrial zones into more sustainable, circular, and climate-resilient models. The targeted industrial parks include AFZ in Kénitra, Aïn Johra in Tiflet, Jorf Lasfar in El Jadida, Tassila in Agadir, and Sélouane in Nador. Officially launched in March 2026, the GEIPP Morocco program has an indicative budget of three million Swiss francs, allocated over a three-year period from 2026 to 2028. This funding is intended to promote circular economy practices among industries, reduce the climate footprint of the industrial sector, and enhance the resilience of these parks against climate change impacts.
The call specifically aims to establish a national network of consulting firms that can support this transformative initiative. Selected firms will receive practical training on international eco-industrial park frameworks, resource efficiency, cleaner production, and industrial synergies. After this training, they may be engaged as subcontractors for UNIDO to conduct specific technical studies starting in early 2027. Consulting firms with at least five years of operational experience and a proven track record in energy efficiency, industrial water management, circular economy practices, decarbonization strategies, ERPP audits, as well as material and energy flow analyses, are encouraged to apply.
Emphasizing the importance of this initiative, Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, highlighted that the project is part of ongoing efforts to foster cleaner production methods in industrial spaces. He underscored the necessity of measuring and mitigating the carbon footprint of industrial activities, reiterating that the establishment of assessment and certification tools is crucial for international recognition. Moreover, UNIDO is particularly encouraging applications from consulting firms led by women and those based in the regions of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Casablanca-Settat, the Oriental, and Souss-Massa. For Moroccan firms, this represents a unique opportunity to enhance their expertise while contributing to a pivotal project that positions Morocco as a global model for sustainable industrial transition. The application window remains open until July 31, 2026, via an online form, with pre-selected firms invited to attend in-person training in Rabat in October 2026.
As reported by leseco.ma.
