Are you currently doing business in Argentina, or do you plan to in the near future? Consider this…
- Argentina is the eighth-largest country by landmass worldwide, and the second-largest country in South America after Brazil.
- Argentina has the third-largest economy in Central and South America with a high GDP per capita, and it’s is one of the G-20 major economies.
- Argentina is a country founded on immigration with strong remnants of European cultures. Though Spanish is the official language, English, Italian, German, and French are commonly spoken.
- Argentina is a major agricultural producer. The country is the third-largest beef exporter in the world after Brazil and Australia. Other major industries include consumer durables, motor vehicles, textiles, petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, and steel.
- Argentina is one of the top media markets in Central and South America. It has more than 150 daily newspapers and dozens of commercial radio and TV stations. One of the newspapers, Clarín is the best-selling daily in South America and has the second-highest number of subscribers among Spanish-speaking countries.
With diverse cultures based on European influences and strong economic pull in the region, Argentina is attractive to foreign businesses. However, Argentina has many social and cultural differences compared to the United States. Here are some pointers for successful business relationships!
Important tips
- Most of the population considers themselves Roman Catholic, which influences basic perceptions and behaviors.
- Argentines have a different naming structure from other Spanish-speaking countries. They use their father’s surname instead of using both parents’ surnames. When you address people, use job titles with surnames. If your counterpart does not have a professional title, use Mr., Mrs., or Miss with their surnames.
- Both men and women commonly greet one another by shaking hands and nodding slightly. Close friends kiss each other on the cheek.
- Compared to North Americans, Argentines speak at a closer distance. If an Argentine puts his or her hand on your shoulder or lapel, don’t be offended. Patting on the shoulder is an expression of friendship.
- If you give gifts bearing your company logo, the logo should not be obvious. Also, do not give knives; knives signify the end of a friendship.
- Eating food in the street or on public transportation is considered rude.
Appointments
- Appointments should always be made ahead of time.
- When going to a business meeting, be on time and be prepared to wait patiently. Important people tend to arrive later than the scheduled start time.
- If you are invited to a social event, ask what time you are expected to show up, not what time the event begins.
- Keeping irregular business hours is common for executives. Argentine executives often work late, so scheduling a business meeting in the evening is quite acceptable.
Negotiations
- Make personal contacts who can refer you to business prospects and focus on building your relationship with a prospect before doing business. The higher the level of the prospect, the better.
- When you are doing business with the Argentine government, you need to have an Argentine contact to introduce you to them. Without this intermediary, you are unlikely to get an appointment.
- The country is based on bureaucracy; negotiation processes are slower than in the United States. Even after a final decision maker agrees to a contract, that person still needs to get approval from other people.
- Argentines can be stubborn and have a decided tendency to avoid risk. Expect little yielding in negotiations.
- Before you sign your final contract, you should be prepared to renegotiate items.
Entertaining
- Business dinners are common and usually held in restaurants. However, except Buenos Aires, business lunches are uncommon; most people still prefer to go home for lunch.
- Argentines do not mention business over meals. They believe meals are social events.
- Dinner is not served before 10:00 p.m. If you have a meeting from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., you will be offered pastries, tea, or coffee. It is polite to accept the offer.
- Flowers (especially bird of paradise flowers), imported chocolates, and whiskey are the most popular gifts when you are invited to an Argentine’s home. Since Argentina is a major producer of leather, don’t bring leather as a gift.
- Argentina has the world’s second-highest consumption rate of beef. Many Argentines eat meat twice a day, and most dishes include beef.
- Argentina has great liquors, including wine. Also, domestic products are cheaper than imported. Usually a host pays for the meals, so don’t order imported liquor without the host’s suggesting it.
- Don’t pour wine with your left hand; it is considered an insult.
For your business document translation needs in Argentina, contact McElroy Translation. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help you and your company become successful in your international business ventures.
Morrison, Terri, and Wayne A. Conaway (2006). Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd edition. Massachusetts: Adams Media Corporation.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Argentina
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1192478.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_in_Argentina#Newspapers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_beef
Currently doing business in Spain, or plan to in the near future? Consider this…
✓ Spanish is the world's second most spoken language.
✓ Spain has an incredible tourist industry as one of the top 5 most visited countries in the world. In 2007, there were nearly 60 million foreign visitors.
✓ Spain is the world’s 14th largest economy and one of the top ten bond markets worldwide.
✓ Major industries include textiles and apparel, food and beverages, metal manufacturing, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.
As a strong economic power and one of the most visited countries, Spain is quite attractive to many foreign businesses. However, Spain has a number of social and cultural differences from other countries that you must be aware of.
Important tips
- Spaniards respect doing business with assertive and distinguished counterparts. Be careful not to become overtly friendly too quickly, and never underestimate a Spaniard based on their perceived role in the organization. Make sure to address your counterparts with their titles and last names.
- Many businesses in Spain have a hierarchical system of management where groups or teams answer to a clear leader. Individuals within a department can make recommendations to their supervisor, but are not allowed to make decisions. Departments tend to be segregated from one another, so quite often line employees and lower management may not understand what happens within other departments.
- 94% of the population practices some level of Catholicism, and religion strongly influences basic perceptions and behaviors. Because of this, Spaniards often make decisions based on subjective feelings.
- Women are considered completely equal under the law and are often leaders in education, politics, and the general workforce.
- Do not give gifts that could be perceived as a vehicle for your company’s logo. If you give flowers, avoid dahlias or chrysanthemums which are related to death.
- The “okay” hand signature in the United States, making an “O” shape with your thumb and index fingers, is considered vulgar.
Appointments
- When going to a business meeting, be on time and be prepared to wait patiently. If it is a social event, ask what time you are expected to show up, not what time the event begins. Make sure if you are planning to schedule an appointment, you do it far in advance and get a confirmation closer to the date.
- Pay attention to national holidays. If you see one falling either on a Tuesday or Thursday, your Spanish counterpart is likely to take a four-day weekend. Additionally, it is common practice to receive 30 days of paid time off, which is typically used during July and August.
Negotiations
- It is definitely about who you know. Make personal contacts who can refer you to business prospects and focus on building your relationship with the prospect before doing business. This will make it easier to be chosen for future business, as well as harder for them to choose someone else.
- Spaniards play it close to the vest. They consider information to be highly valuable and may not be forthcoming with it until it plays in their favor.
- Business meetings will begin with small talk. Be patient and do not push to business topics right away.
- Prepare a business card with Spanish on one side and English on the other side, present the Spanish side when handing it to your counterpart.
- Negotiations can be prolonged. Expect the possibility that you will need to renegotiate areas you believed to be settled previously.
Entertaining
- Do not have a business meeting before 8:30 a.m.
- Spaniards prefer to go home for their midday meal, so do not be offended if your offer to take your counterpart to lunch is declined. If you do have lunch with your counterpart, do not mention business until they bring it up; this will often be at the end of the meal over coffee.
- Dinner is not served before 8:00 p.m., but it can be served as late as 10:00 p.m. From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., “tapas” fill the gap, which consist of mixed olives, cheese or potato omelets.
- Spaniards typically invite people to their homes, but prefer to dine at a restaurant. If you are invited to a Spaniard’s home, do not feel obligated to accept, often the invitation is simply out of kindness. If they continue to invite you, then you should accept. In this case it is appropriate for you to reciprocate the invitation.
For your business document translation needs in Spain, contact McElroy Translation. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help you and your company become successful in your international business ventures.
Morrison, Terri, and Wayne A. Conaway (2006). Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd edition. Massachusetts: Adams Media Corporation.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Spain
India’s professional landscape has changed drastically in the last two decades due in part to the technology boom, the film industry, and tourism. Though the decision-making process for many businesses has sped up, traditional in-person meetings, networking events, and taking the time to develop relationships continue to boast higher levels of success.
Doing business in India now, or planning to in the near future? Consider this…
üIndia has the second largest population, with the second largest labor force.
ü Educated Indian’s have strong opinions regarding politics and socioeconomic climates in India. They enjoy debating multiple topics regarding their country. When entering into such a discussion, be sure to have an open mind and steer clear of criticisms regarding faith, politics, poverty, and the caste system.
ü India has one of the fastest growing IT markets in the world; the second largest mobile phone users in the world, and the third largest Internet users in the world. Other major industries include agriculture, textiles, telecommunications, chemicals, food processing, steel, transport equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, and software.
ü Hindi is the most widely spoken language and English is used for business and political communications. However, India has 14 official languages.
ü India is famous for its religious diversity; Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, and Jainism are the nation's major religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are native to India.
ü India is a hierarchical society. Even though the official caste system was repealed, castes still influence the politics and business.
ü Leave your leather behind! Don’t forget that many in India are Hindu and consider cows to be sacred. Wearing leather belts or shoes is considered offensive to them.
India has a long history with an intermingling of various dynamic cultures. Nowadays, India’s economic growth has produced the fastest and most significant socioeconomic changes to their traditions. However, they still retain their conservative values, and these are different from standards in the United States. You must prepare for these cultural and social differences before pursuing business relationships in India.
Important tips
- Managers usually give direct and specific instructions to their subordinates or assistants. Subordinates are expected to follow the instructions without question.
- A handshake is acceptable in a business setting, but not common between opposite genders. The traditional greeting “Namaste” is used for various meetings. To perform the Namaste, put your palms together in front of your chest and bow slightly.
- Titles are important. Always call people by professional titles. Do not call them by their first names.
- Never touch the head of an Indian person; it is believed that the head stores the soul.
- Pointing or wagging one finger is rude. If you want to point at something, use your chin.
- Do not wrap presents in black or white and do not give money in even numbers. All of these things are considered bad luck.
Appointments
- Major decisions are made at executive levels. Try to contact a higher level directly. Middle managers may not be decision makers, but they are an excellent route to have your proposal heard or to reach the executive level decision makers. Having a middle manager on your side will increase the likelihood of getting a meeting.
- Be prompt, but be patient if your Indian counterpart is late. Also, you should be flexible if your Indian business partner reschedules a meeting at the last minute.
- Indians will meet at any time of the day and will even request to meet at night.
- Indians respect and value the use of technology in presentations. They are also likely to contact a counterpart using multiple communication tools, wireless devices, or telecom tools.
- Local time is ten and a half hours ahead of U.S. EST; the best time for a business meeting is between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Indians do not conduct business during religious holidays, and the dates vary. The best months for visiting are from October to March.
Negotiations
- Refreshments will be provided at a scheduled meeting. It is polite to refuse the first offer and then accept when asked again. It can be considered rude if you do not partake in the refreshments after the second or third time they have been offered to you.
- Prepare your business card for all of the business meetings.
- The decision process for Indian professionals can be slower than that of North Americans; bargaining is a way of life in India, so multiple iterations of a contract should be expected.
- Indians do not make business decisions only based on statistics or official documents. They are more focused on intuition, truths, and feelings. So keep your emotions in check.
- Indians are family oriented, so sometimes business meetings start with small talk such as asking about family. Do not push the subject to business topics right away.
- Providing current technology and technical support can be key to a successful relationship.
- Indians avoid saying no directly. “We will try” is the most common way to refuse a request.
Entertaining
- Business lunches are more common than dinners.
- Even though businesswomen may host a meal at a restaurant, businessmen may offer to pay at the end of meal. If a businesswoman would like to pay, she should make arrangements with a server before the meal starts.
- If you are invited for dinner at an Indian’s home, you should come fifteen or thirty minutes late.
- It is polite to eat using only your right hand. Indians use the left hand for hygienic purposes. Using your hand without any eating utensils is permissible.
- Do not give food from your dish to another person. Indians think if food is placed on a person’s dish, the food is “used.”
- Hindus do not eat beef, and Muslims do not eat pork or drink alcohol. Many vegetarian or other meat dishes are available.
- Do not say thank you to your host after your meal. Indians think such an expression is a form of payment and feel insulted. Inviting your host for a reciprocal dinner is a good way to show your appreciation.
One final consideration when traveling on business in India is the vast poverty within the country. It is important that you do not make eye contact with or give money to beggars, as you could quickly become inundated with them. When traveling through busy areas or near temples, make sure to keep your hands in your pocket; it is commonplace for someone to grab an individual’s free hand and place a bracelet on the arm, expecting payment in return. If you are making a purchase at a market, often your money will be taken and change placed in your hand, without your knowing the actual price or how the vendor came to decide how much change you would receive; if leave your hand outstretched long enough, the vendor will give you more change. And lastly, make sure that you have change on you at all time; often merchants and taxi drivers will claim to not have any.
For your business document translation needs for India, contact McElroy Translation. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help you and your company become successful in your international business ventures.
Morrison, Terri, and Wayne A. Conaway (2006). Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd edition. Massachusetts: Adams.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollywood#cite_note-1
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-10/india/28358616_1_film-industry-chinese-film-chinese-movie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_in_India#cite_note-0
Doing business in South Korea now, or planning to in the near future? Consider this…
ü South Korea is one of the top IT developed countries. They have the fastest Internet access
speed in the world — seven times faster than the global average.
ü South Korea is ranked 8th in exporting and 11th in importing worldwide.
ü Major industries include cars, chemicals, electronics, machinery, shipbuilding, steel,
telecommunications, and robotics.
ü Incheon International Airport is the largest and the primary airport in South Korea. From 2006 to
2010, the airport was selected the best airport in the world by the Airports Council International.
ü South Korean society is based on Confucian values; age, rank, and harmony between groups are
very important factors to consider. People can only be considered equals when they are the same
age.
South Korea is a strong economic power with a huge global presence. Koreans in the business sector are often highly educated in Western customs and traditions, but continue to uphold their own nation’s strong conservative and traditional values, so don’t overestimate their tolerance and understanding of Western culture. Though younger generations are much more open to globalization, there are still many social and cultural differences from the United States, which should be considered when doing business in South Korea.
Important tips
· Korean name structures are different from the Western norm. For instance, if a person’s name is Kim Hee Jin, it means Kim is the family name and Hee Jin is the first name. Middle names are not used.
· Women do not change their names when they get married.
· In a business setting, address people by their title along with their last name. For instance, if a person’s last name is Kim and title is manager, you should say “ Kim Manager.”
· Koreans write the year first, and then the month and the day. For instance, January 9, 2012 is written 2012-01-09.
· Local time is fourteen hours ahead of U.S. EST.
· It is inappropriate to write a person’s name or sign a contract in red; only the names of the deceased are written in red.
· Koreans believe the number 4 is bad luck because the Chinese characters for both “4” and “dead” are pronounced the same way.
· People of opposite genders do not embrace when greeting; a handshake and slight bow are common ways to greet one another.
Appointments
· Appointments are necessary when planning a meeting; be prompt, but be patient if your Korean counterpart is late. Punctuality is also expected for social events.
· Koreans have a preference for one-on-one meetings over group meetings.
· Rank and status are very important factors in Korea; in group meetings, seniors will enter the meeting room first, followed by colleagues in order of rank and job title.
· The best time for a business meeting is between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. or between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Be aware of Korea’s summer vacation days from July to August and all public holidays.
Negotiations
· Usually tea, coffee, water, or other refreshments will be provided at a scheduled meeting at your Korean counterpart’s office.
· Gift-giving is acceptable. Gifts with your company logo are welcome.
· Send your English proposals or presentation materials in advance. Koreans prefer to have accurate statistical results with visible graphs or charts.
· English is the most widely used foreign language; younger generations will conduct business meetings in English.
· Koreans prefer to do business with individuals of equal business status or higher. If you are sending someone within your organization to meet with a Korean project manager, make sure that person is a project manager or higher; to meet a VP, send a VP or your CEO.
· Business decisions often take longer to make than in the United States. Korean systems are based on hierarchy, so it takes time to get a final decision from executive levels.
· Look for signs, such as silence, that your counterpart does not understand what you are saying. Do not expect them to tell you directly, but instead take the initiative to rephrase what it is you are trying to say.
Entertaining
· Many business relationships are built during dinner and drinks at restaurants or bars. After dinner, people often go to a karaoke place.
· Hosts or elders usually pay for meals.
· If you are invited to a Korean’s house, you should come bearing fruits, flowers, cakes, juices, or wines.
· Koreans never wear shoes inside houses or temples, so take off your shoes at the entryway.
· Koreans always use chopsticks and spoons for meals and eat desserts or fruits with forks. Most Korean dishes are served with a bowl of rice.
For translations of business documents into South Korean, contact McElroy Translation. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help you and your company achieve success in your international business ventures.
Morrison, Terri, and Wayne A. Conaway (2006). Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd edition. Massachusetts: Adams.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/01/23/the-world%E2%80%99s-fastest-internet-access%E2%80%94who%E2%80%99s-got-it/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/feb2008/gb20080227_985704.htm?campaign_id=rss_topDiscussed
Currently doing business in Italy, or plan to in the near future? Consider this…
ü Italy is the world’s 10th largest economy, yet it has the third largest bond market!
ü Italy's major industries include tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,
textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, and ceramics.
ü With almost 40 million visitors and more hotel rooms than any other nation in Europe, Italy is the
fourth most visited country in the world.
ü New York City is farther south than Rome, with the same latitude as Naples. However, it only snows
briefly once every several years in Rome and Naples, while in New York it frequently snows in the
winter.
Long a world-renowned destination for tourists, Italy also holds abundant opportunities for business travelers. However, it also has many social and workplace customs that are quite different than what you find in the United States. By highlighting some of these key differences, let's look at ways to prepare you for your next Italian business trip.
Important tips
- Do not give gifts that are obviously a vehicle for you company’s logo. Instead, items such as liquor, delicacies, or crafts from your country are appreciated. It also doesn’t hurt to bring flowers or chocolates to your Italian associate’s secretary/assistant!
- Italians consider wine as a food to be sipped, not as a form of relaxation. Drinking too much in public can be considered rude.
- Everyone tends to speak at once at Italian gatherings. It is possible to conduct a more orderly meeting, but do not be offended if you are interrupted.
- Corporations have a horizontal chain of authority, called a cordata, which can be confusing to North Americans. This parallel channel is based on levels of personal, reciprocal concern, and should never be taken lightly.
Appointments
- Be prompt and expect business to be conducted with pressure and efficiency, especially in the industrial north. High-ranking businesspeople may be late, but typically people are quite punctual.
- Italians prefer to deal with people they know, even if they are only mildly acquainted. Find a way to be introduced to your prospect, be it at an event or through a mutual acquaintance.
- When making an appointment, it is best to write an e-mail request in Italian, and then follow up with a phone call. Your will receive a response much more quickly if the request is in their native language.
- The best time for a business meeting is between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. or after 3 p.m. Be aware of summer vacation periods and public holidays; most firms are closed during the month of August.
Negotiations
- Understanding the chain of command within the business is crucial to success. Decisions are made only by the highest level of authority, but it may not be clear who that is by title alone. When looking for someone to facilitate business, use a contact who is knowledgeable about the internal company structure.
- Refrain from showing a sense of urgency in the negotiation process; this is thought to weaken your bargaining power.
- As a bargaining tactic, your Italian counterpart may make dramatic changes to the contract at the 11th hour.
- Business cards are to be exchanged at business functions only; not social events. You will find that the more important the person is, the less information he or she will have on a card.
Entertaining
- Hospitality is important in the business culture; turning down an invitation to dine is considered rude.
- Do not extend an invitation to your Italian host without some help. Business dinners should include a small number of people, and you will likely not know the intricacies of who should and should not be invited. Your client’s secretary/assistant should be able to help you with this, as well as choosing a location.
- Picking up the check is considered a sign of prestige. At times, Italians will go so far as to provide the waitstaff with a generous tip prior to dinner, to ensure that you do not get the bill. Female executives may find it extremely difficult to pay.
- Keep the receipt for the restaurant bill; “tax police” occasionally check restaurant bills outside for adherence to tax laws.
For your business document translation needs in Italy, contact McElroy Translation. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help you and your company become successful in your international business ventures.
Morrison, Terri, and Wayne A. Conaway (2006). Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd edition. Massachusetts: Adams Media Corporation.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/italy-has-worlds-10th-biggest-economy-but-third-largest-bond-market.html
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/potpourri/fun-facts.asp