Strategic Agreement for Sustainable Industrial Development
On March 16, 2026, a significant agreement was signed in Rabat, Morocco, aimed at implementing the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Program (GEIPP II). This initiative is designed to facilitate the transition of Morocco's industrial parks toward more sustainable eco-industrial parks. The agreement was signed by Ryad Mezzour, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Valentin Zellweger, the Swiss Ambassador to Morocco, and Sanae Lahlou, the UNIDO Country Representative in Morocco. This project marks a pivotal milestone in the longstanding cooperation between Morocco, Switzerland, and UNIDO, embodying a shared vision to create a more competitive, resilient, and environmentally friendly industrial sector.
The primary objective of this ambitious program is to enhance the environmental and economic performance of industrial zones through improved resource efficiency, industrial synergies, and integrated management practices. Drawing on lessons learned from the pilot phase of the project in Morocco, referred to as "EIP light touch," as well as experiences from other nations such as Colombia, Peru, Ukraine, Vietnam, and South Africa, the project aims to build upon existing outcomes, further embedding the eco-industrial parks approach within the Moroccan context, and ensuring a gradual nationwide implementation.
Promoting Circular Economy and Climate Resilience
Set to unfold over a three-year period from 2026 to 2028, with an indicative budget of three million Swiss francs, the GEIPP Morocco program intends to promote circular economy principles within industries, reduce the climate footprint of the industrial sector, and enhance the adaptability of industrial parks to climate change impacts. This initiative is expected to contribute to inclusive and sustainable industrial development, founded on the principles of circular economy. The intervention will also consider the social dimension of development, addressing the country’s priority needs in this area.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Mezzour emphasized that this project continues ongoing efforts to progressively improve the industrial environment, fostering cleaner production practices within industrial spaces. He highlighted the collaborative efforts with UNIDO and Swiss cooperation, which have supported Morocco in implementing these initiatives. Mezzour also stressed the importance of measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of industrial activities, stating that developing tools to evaluate and certify these performances is essential for international recognition.
Ambassador Zellweger noted that this initiative reinforces their mutual commitment to work closely together to enhance economic competitiveness and support job creation. He expressed that the project aims to make industrial parks greener, more sustainable, and more competitive while contributing to job creation. Meanwhile, Lahlou reiterated the program's goal of facilitating the transition of Moroccan industrial parks to eco-industrial parks, underscoring that this approach focuses on waste reduction, CO2 emissions optimization, energy efficiency, and developing synergies between enterprises through industrial symbiosis.
In her remarks, Lahlou asserted that this initiative would bolster the competitiveness of businesses while promoting decent job creation. She pointed out that Morocco is positioning itself as a model for sustainable industrial transition on the international stage. The program aims to strengthen a national ecosystem conducive to the development of eco-industrial parks, promoting synergies with existing public policies and national initiatives. It will also operate in a complementary manner with technical and financial partners, including the World Bank Group and GIZ.
Through this initiative, the partners reaffirm their shared commitment to support the sustainable transformation of Morocco’s industrial territories, enhance the competitiveness of the national industry, and increase its resilience to climate change effects.
As reported by maroc.ma.
