Aligning visions for the Eco-Industrial Park in Šabac
A three-day workshop was held at the Center for Professional Development in Šabac in October 2025 as part of the initiative to develop Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) in the Western Balkans.
The event gathered more than 30 participants, including representatives of the City of Šabac, experts, representatives from the private sector and industrial parks. Over the course of three days, participants actively contributed to shaping the concept of the future Eco-Industrial Park in Šabac.
The workshop was led by Dr. Dick van Beers, an international United Nations expert with more than 20 years of experience in developing and applying EIP tools worldwide, including in South Africa, Colombia, Peru, and Vietnam, together with the IFC expert team.
Participants had the opportunity to:
▪ work on the preparation of the Šabac EIP concept plan,
▪ receive information on upcoming technical assistance and capacity-building activities.
Šabac is the pilot location for the first greenfield Eco-industrial park in the Western Balkans. This workshop served as an opportunity to engage key stakeholders from the very beginning in jointly defining the vision for the park’s development, ensuring that the objectives of local companies are aligned with the plans of the industrial park and with future investment and regulatory frameworks.
The activity is part of the wider Western Balkans Eco-Industrial Parks initiative, co-financed by the European Commission through Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) and implemented by IFC.
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About the pilot projects
As part of the initiative, five pilot projects are planned across the Western Balkans, each with the potential to scale up and serve as regional benchmarks for sustainable industrial transformation. In Serbia, the first two pilot projects will be:
▪ Šabac Greenfield Eco-Industrial Park: A newly developed industrial park designed to incorporate sustainability principles from the start.
▪ MIND Park Brownfield Eco-Industrial Park: A retrofitting existing industrial park showcasing how traditional zones can adopt sustainable practices.
These pilot projects reflect the Eco-Industrial Park initiative’s commitment to positioning the Western Balkans as a leader in sustainable industrial practices.
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About WBIF and Global Gateway
The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) contributes directly to Global Gateway, the EU’s strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport, while strengthening health, education and research systems worldwide. Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to €300 billion worldwide in investments through a Team Europe approach, bringing together the EU, its Member States and financial institutions to leverage investments for a transformational impact.
