Ten Palestinian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are taking concrete steps toward greener production as part of the Green Forward Industry (GFI) project. These companies—active in food processing, packaging, stone and marble, and construction materials—are working with national service providers trained under the EU-funded SwitchMed programme. This partnership ensures the effective application of the UNIDO TEST methodology, a proven approach to improving resource efficiency.

Palestinian industries face significant challenges, from resource scarcity to reconstruction needs. The GFI project tackles these issues by helping SMEs reduce energy, water, and raw material use—cutting costs while boosting competitiveness. This approach has already delivered results: under previous SwitchMed projects (2014–2024), 17 Palestinian SMEs implemented resource efficiency measures that generated €4.8 million in combined savings.

Building on this success, the first group of GFI companies—based mainly in the Bethlehem Industrial Zone, with others in Ramallah and Tulkarem—are now undergoing detailed audits of their operations. Guided by trained service providers, each company is assessing how energy, water, materials, and waste are managed, identifying practical opportunities for savings, and developing tailored action plans.

The project runs until 2028 and aims to support 40–50 SMEs in three successive batches. As the first cycle progresses, participating companies are already engaging in capacity-building activities and preparing to implement concrete measures. By scaling up resource efficiency across multiple sectors, the GFI project is paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable industrial future in Palestine.