EVENT HELD · MAY 7, 2026
5th National Eco-Industrial Parks Meeting of Colombia
The platform for industrial results and profitability. More than 140 leaders consolidating Colombia as a global benchmark for the EIP model.
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DATE May 7, 2026
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LOCATION Bogotá, Colombia
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LED BY ONUDI · SECO · ANDI
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 5th National EIP Meeting consolidated the model’s transition toward a core strategy for financial profitability, investment attraction, and social well-being.
Held on May 7, 2026, in Bogotá, under the leadership of UNIDO and with financial support from the Swiss Cooperation — SECO —, the meeting brought together more than 140 leaders with a clear purpose: to demonstrate that the transition toward the EIP model has moved beyond the boundaries of environmental responsibility.
The key milestone was the recognition of Zona Franca del Pacífico as the first Eco-Industrial Park in the world certified under a national technical standard — NTC 6720:2023 — aligned with UNIDO’s international EIP framework. This achievement reaffirms Colombia as a global lighthouse country in the practical implementation of the model.
During the meeting, high-impact metrics were presented: the cumulative mitigation of 20,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent, energy matrices that reduce costs by up to 37% compared to the market, and the consolidation of the EIP model as a competitiveness standard in the global context of climate-related tariffs.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Zona Franca del Pacífico: the world’s first certified EIP
It was officially consolidated as the first eco-industrial park in the world certified under a national technical standard — NTC 6720:2023 — harmonized with the international framework developed by UNIDO, the World Bank, and GIZ. The recognition was presented by Natascha Weisert, Gabriel Cárdenas, Angélica Peña, and Christian Susan.
65% → 96%
compliance achieved
NTC 6720
national technical standard
Colombia
global benchmark country
THE MEETING IN NUMBERS
Results that set the standard
A day that brought together the public, private, and multilateral ecosystem around sustainability as a competitive advantage.
140+
Leaders and strategic stakeholders from the industrial sector gathered in Bogotá
22
Industrial complexes in the process of implementing the EIP model
20K
Tons of CO₂ equivalent mitigated by the national program
-37%
Reduction in energy costs through efficient renewable energy matrices
SUMMARY VIDEO
Relive the meeting
The voices, key moments, and milestones of the 5th National EIP Meeting in an audiovisual journey.
GALLERY
The event in images
the agenda
10 thematic blocks
From the institutional opening to the call to action, an agenda that connected global vision, public policy, certification, and the human factor.
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Apertura — La nueva era de la reindustrializaciónThe institutional framework for the transition toward sustainable industry in Colombia. Natascha Weisert · Julien Robert · Angélica Peña · Esteban Mosquera |
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Keynote Conference — EIPs as a driver of global competitiveness Structural geopolitical challenge and the role of green nearshoring. Dr. Martin Gustavo Ibarra | Download presentation |
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Enabiling the EIP model in ColombiaInstitutional instruments for scaling the model. Nidia Riaño · Luisa F. Oyuela · Jenny Alarcón · Mod. Sara Zafra |
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Industrial SynergiesPartnerships fot competitiveness and sustainability through industrial symbiosis. Erika Castro · Camilo Cardona · Mulata · Mod. Juan David Salazar |
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From the EIP framework to certificationAdvancing the EIP agenda in Colombia and around the world. Tuyen Nguyen · Etienne Kechichian · Angélica Peña · Mod. Gabriel Cárdenas |
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Environmental impact measurementToward a carbon-neutral event under certified standards. Leonardo Velásquez (La Tercera Mirada) |
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Global Vision — Latam as a Regional Investment HubData from the Global Investor Survey and the nearshoring opportunity. Julio Rodríguez · Angélica Peña · José G. Rodríguez · Mod. Juan S. Gutiérrez |
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Discussion — The human factor and trustThe social fabric as the foundation of systemic competitiveness. Andrea Serrano · Alfredo Caballero · Oswaldo Torres · Mod. Sebastián Trujillo |
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Panel — Experiences toward certificationReal Cases: ZF Bogotá, ZF del Pacífico, and ZF Parque Central. Diego Vargas · Andrés Ávila · Bernard Gilchrist · Mod. Katherine González |
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Closing and call to actionThe Colombian model as a roadmap for the global GEIPP network. Christian Susan (ONUDI) |
PERSPECTIVES AND THE FUTURE OF EIPs IN THE REGION
Cesar Barahona
ONUDI
“The eco-industrial parks model works as a continuous virtuous circle. Once we measure an impact and report a real economic benefit, industry is motivated to implement the next phase of technology transfer.”
He explained the program’s virtuous circle: information dissemination, knowledge strengthening, success stories, enabling regulatory framework, technology transfer, and impact monitoring.
VOICES FROM THE MEETING
Highlighted Messages
Today, a country’s competition is no longer its companies alone; competition takes place between global value chains and territories.
Dr. Martin Gustavo Ibarra
Keynote conference
The International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks is based on the principle of ‘compliance plus.’ Every park must go the extra mile.
Christian Susan
ONUDI
79% of investors globally consider sustainability management fundamental to their investment decisions, and 50% would withdraw their capital without proper ESG management.
Julio Rodríguez
AZFA
Industrialists are not afraid of regulation; they are afraid of uncertainty. Uncertainty disrupts business plans and destroys trust.
Oswaldo Torres
ZF La Cayena
Implementing an eco-industrial model in a mature park with 100% occupancy is like retrofitting an airplane while it is in flight.
Diego Vargas
ZF de Bogotá
Do not think that because you are not ready, you cannot join the program; that is a mental trap. The less ready a park is, the more assistance it needs.
Bernard Gilchrist
ZF Parque Central
LESSONS LEARNED
Key Conclusions
The meeting consolidated findings that redefine how Latin American industry competes.
participatory activity
Árbol de la Sostenibilidad
A methodological activation that gathered the strategic visions of the leaders in attendance. The analysis reflected full consensus: sustainability is the main driver of competitiveness and profitability for the sector, replacing the old perception of environmental compliance as an operational overcost.
Participants validated industrial synergy as the most efficient path for the Colombian market and identified the next step: digital connection platforms that automate resource exchange.
“Sustainability is strategy, and together we go further.”
Toward the 6th National Meeting
The PEI Colombia program continues to expand. Stay up to date with upcoming calls, certifications, and ecosystem events.
