The key event of the year in sustainable industrial development – the Annual Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) Conference in Ukraine 2026 – has officially commenced in Kyiv. This year, the focus is on supporting Ukraine’s green recovery by attracting financing for the development of EIPs. Participants include government officials, international partners, donor organizations, business representatives, industrial park operators, banks, investment institutions, and industry associations.
Eco-industrial parks must become a key instrument for Ukraine’s green reconstruction and its practical integration into the European economic space. This was stated by Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, during his opening remarks. He emphasized that the theme of this year’s conference has strategic importance, as Ukraine is simultaneously navigating multiple complex processes: defending the state against Russian aggression and undergoing a profound economic transformation.
“Recovery cannot mean a return to the pre-war economic model. We are building a new industrial foundation – technological, competitive, and fully integrated into the European economic space, aligning with high standards and the principles of the global sustainable development goals,” noted Taras Kachka. “In this context, eco-industrial parks are not just an infrastructural tool; they are a new model for organizing a truly modern domestic industry. They allow us to combine industrial modernization with decarbonization, resource efficiency, the circular economy, and compliance with EU ESG criteria.”
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the negotiation process for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union requires practical industrial integration. This specifically involves adaptation to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU financial taxonomy, sustainability reporting standards, and supply chain due diligence requirements.
“This is a new economic reality. Eco-industrial parks create an environment where Ukrainian enterprises can meet these requirements systematically, rather than fragmentarily,” he added.
The EIP Conference in Ukraine 2026 is a flagship national event held within the framework of the “Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme II: Country level intervention in Ukraine” (GEIPP-II Ukraine). The program is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with financial support from Switzerland through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The conference agenda features six panel discussions. Participants are exploring the formation of a favourable policy framework for park development, ESG principles as a tool for green recovery, and investment mobilization through financial institutions. Special attention is given to market opportunities, industrial symbiosis, and the benefits of EIPs for resident companies and service providers.
“The growth dynamics of industrial parks in Ukraine is impressive: in the last year alone, the number of operational sites has nearly doubled. Now, our main task within the GEIPP-II program is to ensure their full financial and institutional readiness for green transformation. We are helping businesses prove in practice that environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, and industrial symbiosis lead directly to lower operational costs and increased attractiveness for investors,” stated Christian Susan, UNIDO Industrial Development Officer.
An Industrial Parks Exhibition is operating alongside the Conference to showcase the best investment practices in Ukraine.
The broadcast of the Conference is available on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/geippukraine/live_videos/. YouTube: livestream in Ukrainian or livestream in English.
Photos from the Conference download here.
Background Information:
An eco-industrial park is an innovative format for industrial parks where businesses utilize alternative energy sources, approach waste management rationally, and optimize water usage. EIPs are more competitive, attractive for investments, and resilient to risks.
Ukraine has significant potential in establishing eco-industrial parks to support the green transition, post-war recovery, and alignment with European environmental standards.
By the end of 2025, industrial parks in Ukraine demonstrated rapid development: the total number of registered facilities reached 118, with 27 appearing last year alone (mostly driven by private business initiatives). The most crucial indicator was the nearly twofold increase in the number of actively operating sites -from 21 to 37. The geographical leaders in the number of parks remain the Lviv, Kyiv (which ranked first in new registrations), and Zakarpattia regions. Currently, residents are actively expanding production: 22 enterprises are already operational within the parks, and another 15 are under construction, focusing on agricultural processing, the food and woodworking industries, and mechanical engineering.
The GEIPP Ukraine project is part of the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP), implemented by UNIDO in seven countries and funded by the Government of Switzerland through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The main beneficiary of the project is the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
