NIGER

Bilateral relations Switzerland–Niger

Niger is a priority country for international cooperation. For over 35 years the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC has been assisting Niger with rural development, education and training programmes, and also in dealing with the famine across the Sahel region of Africa since 2012. Since 2009 the Human Security Division (HSD) has also been engaged in peace policy in Niger. The state secretary of the FDFA, Yves Rossier, made an official visit to Niger between 8 and 11 December 2015.

Business language

French.

Dimensions and weights

Metric system.

Currency

National currency CFA-Franc (CFA) = 100 centimes (c).

ISO code: XOF

Customs tariff

Harmonised system.

Import control

Import is broadly liberalised. What is known as a “Fiche Statistique” is required.

Import licences are required for non-liberalised goods.

The goods must be shipped before the licence expires. The duration of licences is generally six months.

Signed pro forma invoices are required to apply for import licences.

Certificates are not required.

There is a ban on the import of drugs/narcotics.

Foreign currencies for payment for imported goods are available from the foreign currency authorities (Office des Changes) via the collection banks.

All imports above CIF 25.000 CFA must be processed by an authorised bank.

The necessary foreign currencies are released on the basis of the import certificate. In order to do this, the import documents must be given a customs clearance note by the customs authorities beforehand.

Standard VAT rate: 18%

Pre-shipment inspection

An inspection certificate (Attestation de Vérification) is required for all goods from a fob value of 2 million CFA Francs.

Terms of payment and tenders

Letters of credit as a basis are almost exclusively standard. Invoices in EUR.

Tenders exclusively in French.

Designations of origin

Not required on goods.

Marking/labelling

No special marking regulations for packaging.

In addition to the standard marking, the following is recommended: “Made in …” (where applicable).

Packaging

Seaworthy packaging. Wooden packaging of all kinds must be chemically or mechanically treated to prevent infestation by pests.

Product samples

Duty free if they have no retail value.

Shipping and accompanying documents

Standard and:

a) Commercial invoices, 3 copies, with all standard information including FOB and CIF value, gross and net weight, terms of delivery, precise description of the goods etc., in French, uncertified. The following declaration to be signed by the exporter must appear at the end of the invoice: “Nous certifions que les marchandises dénommées dans cette facture sont de fabrication et d’origine de … et que les prix indiqués ci-dessus s’accordent avec les prix courants sur le marché d’exportation”.

b) Certificates of origin are not required.

c) Movement certificate EUR. 1 or UE not required.

d) Postal packages and airmail packages up to 20 kg: 1 international dispatch note, 2 customs declaration in French/English.

e) Uncertified bills of lading. Order bills of lading are possible with an indication of a notify address.

f) Enclosing 2 copies of a packing list in French indicating the weight, content, trademark, number etc. is recommended.