Regulatory and institutional gaps as well as technical-capacity constraints of the stakeholders are the key challenges for implementing environmentally-friendly Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) in Bangladesh, speakers observed at a workshop.
The workshop titled 'Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) Light Touch Activities in Bangladesh' was organised by the Ministry of Industries, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), at a city hotel on Monday.
The event marked the completion of a strategic assessment supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), aimed at transitioning Bangladesh's industrial sectors toward a more sustainable and resource-efficient model.
Industrial parks in Bangladesh currently contribute over 37 per cent to the national GDP.
However, traditional models face challenges such as resource depletion and environmental degradation.
The EIP Light Touch initiative was designed to integrate international EIP principles - covering management, environmental, social, and economic performance - into national policy frameworks.
The workshop presented findings from benchmarking 10 industrial sites (8 BSCIC estates and 2 EPZs), providing a roadmap for scaling green industrial practices nationwide.
Industries Secretary Obaidur Rahman attended the event as the chief guest while Chairman of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC)
Saiful Islam, and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Member Abdullah Al Mamun were present as special guests.
Mr Obaidur Rahman said while the nation is preparing for LDC graduation and facing rising expectations for environmental compliance, resource efficiency, and social responsibility, the country's industrial parks must evolve.
"We must transition toward integrated, service-oriented, and sustainability-driven industrial ecosystems, leaving behind traditional models of land allocation and utility provision," he said.
The EIP framework provides a structured pathway for this transition, he said, adding: "We need to emphasise environmental performance, economic efficiency, social inclusion, and effective park management".
BSCIC Chairman Saiful Islam said the initiative has helped reflect on both the BSCIC's achievements and the structural challenges they face in upgrading older industrial estates while planning new ones.
The light-touch EIP approach has provided new perspectives and shown that not all improvements require large capital investments, he said.
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