Legal Documents for Exporting to Countries in West Africa
Our team of commercial lawyers and attorneys can advise on the legal documentation, permits and licenses needed for exporting to countries in West Africa.
raising finance, formation of companies, registration of businesses for tax, social security etc, acquisition of land, buildings and other assets, immigration, visa & work permit difficulties, employment issues, drafting standard terms and conditions of business, dealing with commercial problems, contract disputes, mediation, power of attorney, court cases, process serving, enforcement of judgments, debt collecting, taxation of the business and its shareholders.
Exporting employs a unique body of words and phrases, all of which the beginner will soon become familiar with. For the time being we might briefly consider a few of the more common terms used in exporting circles:
Legal Documents & Permits For Exporting To West Africa
Bills of Lading – This is the document provided by the shipping line as receipt and proof of ownership of the goods transported on your behalf. Usually the document tends to come with multiple copies, some of which are forwarded to the importer and others to the paying bank as evidence of trading.
Certificate of Origin – This is a statement by the exporter with the backing of a Chamber of Commerce and sometimes an embassy. The document states from which country the goods emanate.
Commercial Invoice – More detailed and complex than everyday invoices with which the reader will doubtless already be familiar, this document contains a full description of goods, along with packing marks, weights, insurance details and information regarding transportation routes. Some countries require Chamber of Commerce confirmation of the invoice’s contents; others require all information provided to be given in their own official language.
FOB (Free On Board) – The usual means of quoting export prices. The price includes carriage to specified ports or docks, and charges up to placing on board the ship or aircraft taking the items to their intended destination. If shipped from Southampton, the contract might then say ‘fob Southampton’.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) – A little further on from FOB this cost is that of FOB plus insurance on board.
Price Ex Factory – The price of your goods where the buyer has to arrange and pay for all other costs of carriage, insurance, etc.
Letter of Credit – A common form of payment for exports, provided and controlled by the paying bank.
Consolidated – Where your exported goods are consolidated or grouped with others, usually in a container, in order to obtain the benefits of cheaper shipping rates.
Legal Documents For Exporting To Nigeria
We work with individuals, entrepreneurs, SMEs and international companies and corporations to increase brand awareness, market share, sales and profits from exporting to West African markets such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
We advise international buyers, sellers, importers and exporters on the best bank instruments and payment terms for the profitable export, import, marketing, sales and distribution of products and goods in West Africa.
Please contact us for a no obligation discussion regarding starting, set up or develop an import export business or to discuss trade investment opportunities in Nigeria
- Bank Letter of Credit (L/C)
- Standby Letter Of Credit (SBLC)
- Bank Guarantees & Counter Guarantees
- Bank Payment Obligation (BPO)
- Documents Against Bank Payment