Corridor Trade Sustainability & Investment Promotion Organisation

How we work along the corridor

COTSIO works where trade actually happens – along transport and logistics corridors and at key border posts. We design and deliver corridor-focused programmes that reduce bottlenecks, unlock investment, and make trade more inclusive and climate-resilient.

Our work combines hands-on technical support, policy dialogue and investment facilitation. We bring together governments, private sector, development partners and communities to turn corridor potential into concrete projects, jobs and climate-smart growth.

Our core pillars of work

1. Corridor investment & private sector development

We help turn corridor opportunities into bankable investments and stronger local firms.

• Investment opportunity mapping and pipelines
• Investor outreach, facilitation and aftercare
• MSME and supplier development linked to anchors

Investment MSMEs

2. Trade facilitation & border performance

We support border agencies, corridor authorities, and private-sector operators to reduce trade time, costs, and procedural inefficiencies.

• Corridor bottleneck diagnostics and time-release studies
• Simplification and digitalisation of cross-border procedures
• Joint border committees and structured public–private dialogue
• Technical assistance to authorities for adopting international digital trade-facilitation standards and paperless trade mechanisms
• Hosting regional trade expos and delivering capacity-building programmes to promote integration and inclusivity

Trade facilitation Customs

3. Sustainability, climate & inclusion

We integrate ESG principles, climate resilience, and inclusion into corridor investments and operational frameworks.

• ESG and climate-risk assessments by corridor
• Gender-responsive and youth-focused programming
• Climate-smart investment and resilience measures
• GHG emissions-reduction strategies aligned with IMO sustainability frameworks
• Collaboration with UN SDGs localisation initiatives

ESG Inclusion

How we engage with partners

With governments & corridor authorities

We work with ministries, corridor authorities, investment promotion agencies and line agencies.

• • Corridor strategies, roadmaps and action plans
• • Support to reforms, regulations and service charters
• • Design and delivery of donor-funded programmes

With private investors & businesses

We support both international investors and corridor-based firms.

• • Pre-feasibility and investment concept development
• • Facilitation with authorities and local partners
• • Capacity building for corridor MSMEs and suppliers

With development partners & DFIs

We help align corridor investment with development and climate goals.

• • Programme design and pipeline preparation
• • Implementation support and technical assistance
• • Monitoring, results measurement and learning

With communities, women & youth

We work to ensure corridor investments translate into decent and inclusive jobs.

• • Targeted support to women- and youth-led businesses
• • Skills, employability and entrepreneurship initiatives
• • Dialogue platforms around social and climate impacts

What our corridor programmes look like

Programme type	Typical focus	Core partners
Trade & border facilitation initiative	Time and cost reduction for key corridors, simplification and digitalisation of procedures, joint border management.	Customs, border police, corridor authorities, freight forwarders, traders’ associations, development partners.
Corridor investment & MSME programme	Investment opportunities in logistics, agribusiness, manufacturing and services; supplier upgrading and local content.	Investment promotion agencies, sector ministries, anchor firms, MSMEs, DFIs and donors.
Climate-smart & inclusive corridor initiative	ESG integration, climate resilience, women and youth economic empowerment in corridor value chains.	Environment agencies, social partners, women and youth organisations, local authorities, financiers.

Partner with us

Let’s design a corridor programme together.

Whether you are shaping a new investment facility, border initiative or MSME programme, COTSIO can bring corridor insight, technical expertise and implementation capacity.

Contact our team Explore our services