Gateway Development International is a clean-tech solutions company focused on providing ‘better, faster, greener, and cheaper’ social and physical infrastructure technologies to private firms and public agencies needing to construct, refurbish, or repair their infrastructure portfolio. What we do is:

• identify, access, and license (or acquire) proven, simple and appropriate technologies;
• work with multinational and domestic corporations, international government agencies, development banks and bilateral donors, and architects, developers, and building contractors to solve their infrastructure needs in a quick, affordable, and sustainable manner;
• provide advisory services to entities looking for assistance in the design and specification of tier infrastructure projects; and
• conduct training for architects, designers and builders in how to design and build using our improved systems and materials.

The most important ingredient and success factor when entering new markets is finding a reliable local partner.  This includes, but is not limited to, being strategically aligned, hardworking, competent, communicative, respectable, and 100% trustworthy.  For our technology partners, GDI is their “local partner,” as we form a local entity with local investors and board members.  However, we also bring best practice governance, marketing, and financial policies and procedures.

At GDI, we understand the social, environmental, economic and political complexities involved when working in fast growth contexts. Decades of experience in a wide range of countries have taught us that for projects to be truly successful (and sustainable), an integrated approach is required. As such, our methodology is based on the following principles:

Affordability

• Minimizing cost through smart design, material selection and efficiency
• Employing a mix of modern and traditional methods, maximizing the use of local materials and labor.

Appropriate Technology

Using materials and systems that are:

• Simple and easy to build with, affordable, high thermal properties and energy efficient.
• Strong and durable in seismic and high wind environments, resistant to moisture, mold and mildew, quiet, and where possible.
• Able to be manufactured in-country
• Ensuring alignment with host country social, economic and environmental strategies, policies, and codes.
• Providing critical input into the assessment, planning, design and construction phases, and
• Resulting in the awareness, interest and ultimately buy-in, ownership and commitment needed for long term project success
• Working with local partners and building capacity in the local labor force is a top priority.
• Technologies that, while sophisticated in their design, are simple to use.
• Training programs that are documented and designed to require minimal previous experience
• Transferring the manufacturing technology to a locally owned company.
• Ensuring there is in-country skills and capacity to carry on manufacturing and distributing on a sustainable basis.

Local Partnership

• Ensuring alignment with the host country development strategy, policies, and codes
• Providing critical input into the assessment, planning, design and construction phases, and
• Resulting in the awareness, interest and ultimately buy-in, ownership and commitment needed for long term project success

Cultural Awareness

• Sensitivity to social norms, expectations and cultural heritage
• Collaborative design and product selection to accommodate historic sites, cultural landscapes, aesthetics, urban planning, and architectural style

Workforce Development

• Working with local partners, building capacity in the local labor force as a top priority
• Training programs that are appropriately documented and designed to build vocational skills

Private Sector Development

• Transferring the manufacturing technology to a locally owned company
• Ensuring there are in-country skills and capacity to carry on manufacturing and distributing on a sustainable basis