The WBIF pilot project on Eco-Industrial Parks was pinpointed as a way of speeding up the decarbonisation process at the RES Serbia 2024 conference on a panel about infrastructure development for the electric car market.

This initiative focuses on fostering environmentally responsible industrial zones across the region, with Kragujevac, Serbia, selected as one of the pilots.

By integrating circular economy principles and renewable energy, the project targets significant reductions in environmental impact while promoting resource-efficient industrial growth. The programme is led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and benefits from a €2.5 million WBIF grant.

Nicolas Marquier, Regional Manager for Western Balkans at IFC, presented the pilot project. “The Western Balkans are benefiting from the ‘nearshoring’ trend. The advantage of Serbia and the Western Balkans is that you are close to the EU and that you have funds that you can use. There is a lot of progress in the region, but it is not going fast enough, in the green economy there are jobs of the future for the citizens of Serbia, factories, manufacturers,” said Marquier.

The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) has been instrumental in supporting projects like these across the region.

A joint endeavour of the European Commission, international financial institutions, and Western Balkan governments, the WBIF provides blended finance and technical assistance to accelerate sustainable infrastructure development. By pooling resources, WBIF creates tailored investment support, ensuring that energy, transport, and digitalization goals align with both EU policies and the economic needs of the region.

Beyond eco-industrial parks, conference panels covered infrastructure needs for the electric vehicle market, energy storage, and grid modernisation, addressing critical challenges for renewable energy transition. The event underscored that developing robust, renewable-powered infrastructure is essential for fostering a sustainable energy ecosystem in the Western Balkans, aligning well with the region's green energy goals.

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For more on the RES Serbia 2024 conference and its discussions, please visit RES Serbia 2024.

See all the support programmes for the private sector at https://www.wbif.eu/sectors/private-sector-2024