As part of its exchange programme, France has created the International Volunteer in Enterprise (V.I.E.) initiative which offers young graduates a professional mission abroad. Please meet Antoine, V.I.E. for the AGS Group in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Antoine, can you introduce yourself and talk about what led you to Cameroon?

I’ve always been very curious to discover the world. During my studies at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, I seized the opportunity to live abroad as an exchange student. I spent a semester in Canada before finishing my studies while I lived in Taiwan, and I was officially bitten by the travel bug. At the end of my master’s degree, I landed a one-year assignment at the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Rwanda. It was a very rich experience and led to another 6-month contract at an NGO. The year and a half in Africa aroused my curiosity and I searched for ways to return to the continent.

The V.I.E. missions seemed to be the perfect fit and were in line with my career aspirations. The missions provide comfortable living conditions as well as financial means and offer a reasonable commitment period – up to 2 years. It was also the ideal opportunity for me to take the first step into the private sector while discovering life in a new country.

I’d like to think that I didn’t choose Cameroon, but that Cameroon chose me. I applied for a wide variety of missions in many countries and finally ended up at AGS in Yaoundé. My attention was not necessarily or intrinsically set on the country, however, in hindsight, Cameroon offers a large number of professional and personal challenges. Doing project management in a country where “yes” does not necessarily mean “yes”, “no” does not mean “no”, and “tomorrow” means “one day maybe”, there is no doubt that I learned a lot.

What is your mission at AGS?

My assignment at AGS includes a combination of public relations, customer portfolio management and logistics coordination. In the international mobility industry, a large part of the market is acquired by image and trust. Our clientele in Yaoundé mainly comprises of diplomats, representatives of the United Nations and those of big international NGOs. My role is to interact positively with these embassies and organisations, formally or otherwise, during a business meeting or even leisurely events, such as a round of golf. As a result, they will spontaneously think of AGS when they move one of their postings. Once the move is underway, I take care of negotiating the best prices with our suppliers – carriers, charters, freight forwarders – and coordinate all stakeholders, from packaging to delivery to destination.

What are the activities of the AGS Group in Cameroon?

AGS is one of the world leaders in international removals and has been operating for over forty years. The company is physically present in all 54 African countries and offers furniture storage services. Gradually, the group is developing records management and heritage digitization activities which offers protection and conservation of historical heritage in the countries where the company operates. In Cameroon, AGS is present through two agencies: one in the economic capital in Douala, which interfaces with the port, and a second in Yaoundé, the administrative capital, where I have been working for the past 18 months.

Can you offer any tips to young graduates who are still hesitating to choose V.I.E?

For a young graduate, it is normal to hesitate to take the first step, but I’d like to encourage them to get out of their comfort zone, to leave for a new country without a landmark. It brings great satisfaction once this step is done. The V.I.E. programme is perfect to go abroad for a few years and have the opportunity of your first professional experience. It allows you to live abroad in excellent conditions and often offers a level of responsibility that has no equivalent in France. In my opinion, it is a real professional and personal springboard. Moreover, volunteers are never left to their own devices. They are usually welcomed by their company, while Business France makes every effort to facilitate their arrival and integrate them into the “network” of volunteers. My interactions with Business France also allowed me to meet interesting personalities and high-level decision-makers whom I can now count into my network.
If you are 28 years or younger, I’d like to urge you to start your V.I.E. journey before it’s too late!

The final word?

I’d like to thank AGS for believing in me, as well as Business France for supporting me so well. If I had to do it again, I would not hesitate for a second.

Read the article on the French Embassy in Cameroon’s website

The evening kicked off with a tour through AGS Froesch Berlin’s logistical facilities and art warehouses. Guests were then taken through the logistical processes, digitization options and customs, followed by an in-depth look at our heritage imaging processing, which was presented by Arkhênum International Project Manager, Laurent Bidet.

Colleagues of our Fine Art Office & Technical Team showed guests the different types of packing material and demonstrated the skills of the department during Fine Art operations. The evening concluded with a networking party and barbeque at the headquarters of AGS Froesch in Grossbeeren.

“This event allowed us to showcase the expertise of AGS Froesch Berlin and we were very excited to have the opportunity to share a glimpse into our operations, state of the art storage facility and our talented team. Events like this gives us an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our customers and we will continue to deliver the high levels of service that our customers have come to expect from AGS Froesch Berlin for their moving and storage services,”

AGS Froesch Berlin Manager, Klaus Meyer said.

The new warehouse is equipped to store anything – from furniture, to fine art, to commercial goods and professional equipment. In addition to the storage facility, AGS Cambodia also provides all the necessary packing materials and clients have 24-hour access to their stored items.

Our friendly staff can handle your entire storage process and are ready to offer their professional assistance.

The integration agreement between the two unions has been approved by the governing bodies of both organizations. The newly created union, called Grupo OCEM, will focus mainly on removals and storage companies.

The union of the two associations will result in greater representation by the moving industry sector on the transport lobbies.

• Six months before your move
• Three months before your move
• One month to go
• Seven more sleeps
• The day before
• Moving day!

Six months before your move

You know your destination, now it’s time to plan your relocation!

• Check with your doctor that your vaccination record is up to date and that your destination country does not require any vaccinations: yellow fever, typhoid, etc. If you are on ongoing medication, ask your doctor for advice.
• Apply for passports, visas, work permits and international driving permits if necessary, and have a look at accommodation options and schooling for the kids.
• Ask your bank whether you can transfer your bank account or whether it’s better to open a new account in your host country.
• Notify your children’s schools of their imminent departure to get the documents you’ll need to enrol them in their new schools.
• If you have a pet, check your airline’s requirements for pet travel. Also check what the pet import requirements are in your host country and visit your veterinarian to obtain all the necessary documents.

Three months before your move

• Have a ruthless sort through your belongings and resell or donate what you aren’t taking with.
• Organise and file important documents.
• Familiarise yourself with the customs clearance procedures and taxes in your destination country. Your AGS advisor will tell you everything you need to know and give you a list of restricted items. This list varies from country to country but can contain, for example, certain books, films, medicines, ivory décor, wine and/or cigarettes.
• Terminate your lease.
• Save invoices for any new goods you buy in this period. Customs could ask to see them on your arrival.
• Notify your local municipal office of your move, they will need to register your change of address. Cancel your subscriptions and direct debits for:
  • • • Water, electricity, gas
      • Telephone, internet, satellite/cable TV
      • Insurance, social security and health insurance
      • Schools
      • Leisure and sports clubs
      • Magazines, newspaper
• Start looking for temporary accommodation in your destination country. That way you have a place to stay while you wait for your shipment to arrive.
• If you are moving as a family, learn about your new home country together and discuss the move with your children. Find more tips in our article “Moving with children“.

One month to go

• The big day is fast approaching! Make a detailed inventory of everything accompanying you on your move. Assign each item a monetary value. You can complete this inventory online by logging into your personal account on the AGS web platform.
  Remember to insure your belongings. AGS also offers all risk insurance.
• Organise the transport of your valuables, such as jewellery and important documents. The transport of these items is your responsibility.
• Arrange for pet and childcare on moving day.
• Clean and dry your tools, garden furniture and kitchen utensils to avoid mould during the transport. This is particularly important if you are moving to a humid climate.
• If you are shipping your vehicle as well, remember to service your car and drain the fuel tank prior to transport.

Seven more sleeps

• Send your shipping documents to AGS. We will verify that they have been completed correctly.
• Start packing your luggage; select games to occupy the children during the trip.
• Store the items you don’t want to ship but can’t bear to part with. Your AGS advisor can advise you on short- and long-term storage solutions.

The day before

• Make sure your important documents are all in one place and within easy reach: plane tickets, identity documents, passports, etc.
• Put aside essential medications and make sure you take them with you.
• Pack a travel bag containing snacks and candy, changes of clothes, essential medicines, magazines, phones and their chargers, etc.
• Ensure that your children’s favourite blankets, bottles, pacifiers, and toys are packed in your hand luggage, you might need them.
• Defrost your refrigerator/freezer.

Moving day!

The big day has arrived, the movers are on their way and your things are ready. There are only a few things left to do:

• If you are a tenant, make a final inventory of fixtures, noting every detail (damage, breakages, malfunctions, etc.). Also remember to note down meter numbers to avoid any misunderstanding with the landlord.
• Go around each room one last time to check you haven’t left anything behind. Open each cupboard to be sure.
• Turn off the electricity, water and gas.
• For insurance purposes, demonstrate to the movers that your electronic and household appliances are working before they are loaded for shipment.

Now you are ready to turn the page and start your new adventure! AGS is standing by to help you every step of the way. From finding temporary accommodation and appropriate schools, to setting up utility and internet subscriptions for your new home, we strive to make your move as stress-free as possible.

AGS, your mobility partner for a successful expatriation.

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Do not hesitate to contact us, should you require more information about our insurance policy.

• How Should I Value my Goods?
• Car Insurance pay-out if lost/damaged
• Storage Coverage Extension
• Claiming from your insurance
• Main Exclusions

How should I value my goods?

Valuing your goods and completing your inventory is an important step of your move, ensuring your goods are well covered.

Every item you intend to move should be covered
Moving companies, in general, require that all household goods and other items appears on the inventory list in order to be insured. Note that insurers usually calculate their risks and premiums based on the entire value of goods moved by all their clients.

Purchase value of the goods at destination
Remember to value and insure your effects at the replacement value at destination, i.e. what it would cost to replace the item in the country you are moving to. If required, you will have to repair or replace the item in your new country. We strongly recommend that you research the cost of living in your country of destination, using travel guides or websites.

Do not undervalue your shipment
Your insurer will refund you according to the value of your shipment/item. For this reason we recommend that you do not undervalue your shipment. If you have to submit a claim, insurers will only reimburse you according to the declared value on your inventory and the proportion of the damage. Undervaluing your goods will result in insufficient compensation to cover the cost of repair or replacement of these items.

Provide as much detail as possible
The inventory is usually used by moving companies to list items to be moved and insured. List each item as well as their quantity and price.

Declare your high value items
Ensure that you have as much written information about your high value items (items valued at EUR 20,000.00 or more for instance) as possible. The underwriters of your moving company may require proof of ownership and/or value of such items. Make sure you photograph these items, print them in color, date and sign the prints and add them to your inventory. For items of high value, you can never take too many precautions.

Car Insurance pay-out if lost/damaged

In case of damage to or loss of vehicles, insurers usually apply a reduction to the amount paid out, calculated according to the age and mileage of the vehicle.

Storage Coverage Extension

The policy cover will be outlined by your removals company. Some moving companies offers to insure their clients’ goods from collection to delivery whilst others only insure goods while in storage. If you need comprehensive coverage for secure storage before or after transit, you may need a separate insurance coverage. Ensure that you establish the insurance policy of your specific movers.

Claiming from your insurance

This will depend on the insurance policy of the chosen removals company. Ensure that you know what the procedure is in the event of a claim for goods that have been lost or damaged in transit. Here are some points that you will need to clarify with your moving company:

• The time allowed for you to notify your mover of any damage, from the day of delivery
• The information that you need to provide when giving notice
• When you need to make your claim, what it must include and how it should be notified (i.e. registered mail, e-mail, normal mail)
• Any other information/paperwork that will be required

Main Exclusions

Removals companies do not usually cover goods which fall under the following risk criteria:

Consequential loss
Consequential losses (i.e. resulting losses) arising from the delay in delivery may not be covered, and loss of value and depreciation due to damage and/or after repair may be excluded from cover. Ensure that you clarify this with your removals company.

Owner packed goods
Items packed by the owner without inspection by the mover before the carton box is sealed, are classified as “Packed by Owner” (abbreviated as U20 or PBO). Movers usually exclude cover to items which are damaged or lost in owner-packed-cartons. If you wish to be covered, allow your removals company to pack or repack all items.

Get moving insurance for your goods.

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As one example of the faith our clients have in us, AGS’ branch in Troyes, France, recently shipped a 1979 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow to St Helena in California, USA. Before this long journey the Rolls Royce was stored in our warehouse, where we ensured that it was protected from moisture and that its battery would not run flat. The classic car was then loaded into a 20-foot container by a tow truck, before being carefully secured for transport by AGS Troyes’ professional team.

More information about vehicle transfer >>

Over the 2 days, about 60 French-Belgian companies, craftsmen and designers introduced more than 8000 visitors to the passion of their jobs, expertise and services, particularly in the field of gastronomy and fashion.

As a French-owned company, AGS Coussaert is also passionate about French culture and supporting local community events. The team offered a friendly welcome and focused on introducing the many visitors to its secure storage services. This year, the focus was on the new fully automated warehouse. The modernism and technological advances in terms of storage put in place by AGS Coussaert had clearly impressed the many visitors.

The mild weather and an easy-going atmosphere contributed to making this third year of The French Weekend a complete success. AGS Coussaert had the opportunity to meet with its existing clients as well as to build up new contacts. We are proud to be highly renowned among the large foreign community living in Brussels for our international removals and secure secure storage services.

The event has become a key part of the social calendar for the foreign and local community living in Uccle, and the AGS Coussaert team is delighted to already confirm its participation in the 2017 edition!

Caribbean University authorities were recently surprised to discover that hundreds of cubic meters of archives from the Martinique region and Monaco Oceanographic Institute had been stored in the Schoelcher campus’ University Library, since October 2011.

When it was realised that the storage of the archive papers in the library’s basement posed a fire risk, the library was forced to close until the situation was rectified – an unpopular decision with students, as it fell just ahead of the exam period!

The challenge for AGS Martinique: saving the documents and ensuring the rapid reopening of the University Library.

With exams approaching, the library closure was particularly detrimental to students. It was therefore necessary to proceed urgently with the transfer of these archives.

A new building dedicated to the national archive from Martinique had been constructed, but before any documents could be stored in it, the facility first had to be approved by the technical controller and be issued with a certificate of compliance.

Fortunately, the Territorial Authority of Martinique (CTM) could count on the professionalism and expertise of the AGS Group with the removal of the files, as these sensitive timelines were factored into the operation’s planning.

Flexibility and responsiveness, AGS Martinique’s strengths

While waiting for authorization to start the transfer, AGS Martinique used the time constructively by orchestrating every detail of the operation in advance.

“This was a last minute order that had to be implemented and managed.” explained Daniel Dulymbois, AGS’ team manager for the operation.

AGS Martinique wasn’t deterred, however: it is experienced with handling projects of this nature. To complete the transfer and not affect students any longer than necessary, a reinforced AGS team of ten movers arrived with trucks and furniture lifts on March 17 at 08:30 with a clear plan of action!

Archives transfer to the new CTM buildingFurther underlining the importance of this move, AGS Martinique’s team began the transfer of the archives under the spotlight of the local media.

Bailiffs, representatives of the CTM and the University gathered to monitor their careful handling of the 450m3 of documents.

The AGS team was immediately faced with a serious logistical challenge: some of the public records in storage were much damaged. The removal therefore required a quasi-military organization from AGS’ team –

“With the handling of archives, there is no improvisation!” added Daniel.

The team successfully carried out the delivery in six days, transporting the archives to the new CTM building. Here all documents were classified and indexed, before being made available for consultation again.

Making this operation particularly rewarding, the archives of the Institute of Oceanography in Monaco were found to include documents of great cultural value! These reports are the results of scientific surveys carried out by the Albert I Foundation. Following the transfer of the archives, the Schoelcher University Library re-opened on March 30, to the relief of its students.

AGS Martinique has already been further developing its archiving expertise, completing three other large-scale transfers in April:

• 380 m³ of departmental public archives in the Bellevue neighbourhood
• 220 m³ at the Regional Council headquarters
• 150 m³ for the Association for Adult Vocational Training (AFPA).

Useful links:

Shipping cars to Martinique
Shipping parcels to Martinique

One of the main innovations includes a new Records Management viewing room on a balcony overlooking the branch’s records storage facility.