F E AT U RE Creseada International Ltd begins the process of packing Creseada employees at work as lithium batteries and accessories, delta rectifier power systems, solar PV shelves and GPS tracking systems. The exhibition trade has become increasingly important, as international companies ock to show off the latest wares: agricultural products and equipment; medical equipment and accessories; and oil and gas supplies services, to list but a few. The aim is either to market directly or to find a local Nigerian partner in trade. We offer logistics inward and outward, but we also take part ourselves in these exhibitions, says Lawal. BABAJIDE AYINDE, PRODUCT MANAGER AT CRESEADA INTERNATIONAL LTD CEDRIC CASTRO, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT AGS MOVERS 66 FF290 pp60-71 Regional Focus.indd 66 CARVING A NICHE Also ying the FIDI ag in Nigeria is Creseada International Ltd, which was established in 1985 and expanded into packing and removals in 2002. Armed with FAIMPlus accreditation, and now a freight forwarding and supply chain management supplier, Creseada is poised to extend its reach into central and West Africa. Weve carved a niche in the Nigerian market and will be moving into Cameroon, Chad, Ghana and Central Africa in the next financial year, says Babajide Ayinde, the company Product Manager. Technology-driven changes help make this possible, he says. For instance, Creseada operations benefit from faster and more efficient visibility of job declarations, and tracking the status of customer shipments. Theres also been an increase in regulatory compliance. There are, he adds, challenges in every market. But political stability and government fiscal measures to encourage foreign investment are a positive. As an increasing number of multinationals enter this region, the demand for relocation services rise. As for working in remote areas, our crews have a sound knowledge of the environment in which we and our clients operate. Thoroughness and doing things by the book are key to a smooth-running operation, says Ayinde. That means ensuring full and accurate documentation is available to everyone in the Creseada team, including driving crews, and customs processors. We give constant training, and use technology for fast-reaction communication. That goes right up to the senior management team. Ayinde, like Lawal, sees FIDI membership as opening the door for collaboration with similar qualityminded partners. Last year, Creseada added FAIMPlus accreditation to its industry credits. Reaching this level boosts the chances of winning specialist trade that requires delicate handling. Recently, via the Belgian Consulate in Nigeria, Creseada got the job of transporting valuable artworks from the Nike art gallery in Lagos to fine art auctioneers Bonhams in Brussels. Compared with Nigeria, the commercial climate in Senegal and Ivory Coast appears far less heated. Their populations are relatively small (15 million and 21.6 million, respectively). Consider also the three countries relative gross domestic products (GDPs) per head: according to 2017 figures, $2,412 in Nigeria; but in Senegal less than half, $1,134; and in the Ivory Coast, $1,538. But that isnt to say things arent buzzing in the two smaller countries, even though customs procedures and fines in Senegal have proved tricky in the recent past. Reports emerged a couple of years ago of a bizarre WWW. F I D I . OR G 13/03/2019 12:06