An Eco-industrial park is a community of businesses on a common property that strive for better environmental, economic, and social performance by promoting resource efficiency and circular economy. The conversion to Eco-industrial parks increases the competitiveness of industrial areas and contributes to the greening of industrial development in line with Vietnam's Climate Change Commitment.

During the workshop, private and public stakeholders discussed possible solutions to further strengthen industrial zone development legislation in line with the recently adopted Decree 35 on the Management of Industrial Parks and Economic Zones. This decree provides guidance for converting industrial parks and establishing new Eco-industrial parks.

At the workshop, Mr. Werner Bardill, Consul General of Switzerland in Ho Chi Minh City, said that "At the Eco-industrial park level, we have seen many pioneering investments in resource efficiency and cleaner production; and we hope that more industrial parks in Vietnam will participate in this process."

A strong commitment from the government, the new decree, and raising awareness among businesses could give the necessary boost to the transformation of the over 400 industrial parks in Vietnam towards Eco-industrial parks.

Switzerland is supporting the development of Eco-industrial parks through the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP) of UNIDO. It provided assistance to the preparation of the new decree and supports industrial parks in several cities to convert into Eco-industrial parks. The GEIPP is part of the Economic Development Cooperation Program in Vietnam, managed by the SECO.