Regulatory, technical gaps hinder eco-industrial parks in Bangladesh: Speakers

Regulatory and institutional shortcomings, coupled with technical capacity constraints, emerged as the main obstacles to implementing Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) in Bangladesh, speakers said.

"Bangladesh faces multiple structural and operational challenges in transforming its industrial zones into eco-industrial parks," Chandramallika Ghosh, national project coordinator of Eco-Industrial Parks Light Touch Activities (EIPLTA) Bangladesh at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido), said at the closing workshop of the Eco-Industrial Parks Light Touch Activities held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday (21 December).

The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Industries and Unido, marking the completion of a strategic assessment supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

Presenting key findings from the EIP Light Touch Activities, Ghosh said gaps in environmental regulations and weak enforcement mechanisms discourage industrial park developers and operators from adopting EIP principles.

"Regulatory and institutional gaps remain a critical obstacle to advancing eco-industrial development in Bangladesh," she said, adding that the absence of a comprehensive national policy framework defining eco-industrial parks has slowed progress. She added that EIP concepts are yet to be fully integrated into the country's broader industrial, innovation, and environmental policy agendas.

Joining the event virtually, Salil Dutt, chief technical adviser at Unido, said eco-industrial parks promote cross-industry and community collaboration to generate shared economic, social, and environmental benefits. He said the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks serves as a practical decision-making tool for policymakers, park authorities, and investors, supporting evidence-based planning and sustainable industrial transformation.

Technical capacity constraints were also identified as a major barrier. Many Export Processing Zones, Economic Zones, and industrial parks lack the skilled human resources, technical expertise, and tools required to integrate core EIP components such as resource efficiency, cleaner production, and environmental management systems.

The presentation further pointed to financial limitations, noting that park authorities and tenant industries often have limited access to finance for investments in pollution prevention, waste reduction, and cleaner technologies. Weak coordination among public and private stakeholders, limited knowledge-sharing between policymakers, academia and industry, and low awareness among zone authorities regarding EIP benefits were also flagged as persistent challenges.

To address these issues, the workshop proposed several recommendations, including developing a national EIP definition and a dedicated legal framework supported by a five- to ten-year roadmap. The roadmap would allow Bangladesh to gradually scale up EIP practices from pilot initiatives to nationwide implementation.

Other proposals included strengthening governance through the establishment of a high-level National EIP Steering Committee, a technical secretariat, and park-level EIP support units. The recommendations also stressed the importance of creating a centralised EIP data and monitoring platform, promoting circular economy and Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production practices, mobilising blended green and climate finance, and enhancing capacity-building for inclusive and climate-resilient industrial development.

Industrial parks currently contribute more than 37% of Bangladesh's gross domestic product. However, speakers noted that conventional industrial models are increasingly under pressure due to resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and rising global sustainability standards.