Doing Business in India What You Should Know

The Country At A Glance  Geography: the Indian mainland comprises four well-defined regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region and the southern peninsula.  Population: 853 million  Languages: A number of languages (15 specified) are spoken in different parts of India. However, English and Hindi are widely spoken and understood.

Introductions  Greet the oldest person in the group first, not the host.  The traditional Indian greeting is called namaste : press the palms together (fingers up) below the chin and incline you head slightly, while saying the word namaste.  Do not bow. Generally shake hands with men.  Indians usually won't shake hands with a woman.  Don't use first names unless you know someone well. Use "Mr.," "Mrs.," or "Miss." Use titles such as "Professor" and "Doctor," and use "sir" with a superior.

Social Tips & Conventions  Maintain a distance of about an arm's length with members of the opposite sex.  Be prepared to answer personal questions.  You should also show curiosity about the host's family... Don't begin a business meeting without these preliminaries.

Social Tips & Conventions  To accept something, including food, always use your right hand. In India, the left hand is used for personal cleaning purposes.  Expect to be overwhelmed with hospitality. Never refuse an invitation  Don't thank someone repetitively as this is considered superficial.  Compliments to women from males who are not close relatives are considered inappropriate.

Customary Business Practices  Though Indians are impressed by your punctuality, they are often late themselves.  Try to keep your schedule loose to accommodate these delays. Don't be surprised if Indian business people are somewhat vague about a commitment since they don't like to be pressed for exact times.  Generally business is conducted at a slow pace. Be prepared for a good deal of discussion, followed by a long wait for a final decision.

Customary Business Practices  Be patient and enjoy the pleasantries and conversation that are typical during business dealings.  Negotiation will proceed slowly.  Contracts and other documentation related to business arrangements will usually be scrutinized vary carefully, sometimes taking weeks or months.  Decisions are made at the top. Try to make contact at the highest levels and provide incentives for middle managers and assistants to help nudge your concerns or proposals upward.

Customary Business Practices  Business cards may be in English.  However, promotional and sales materials should be printed in Hindi to reach wide markets.  Phrase questions carefully. Indian responses can be ambiguous to avoid upsetting a person.  Most Indian businessmen are westernized, but many have fairly old-fashioned ideas regarding the status of women.  Be deferential when dealing with bureaucrats.

Public Customs  Before entering a home, ask if you should remove your shoes.  Whistling is considered very impolite.  One's feet or shoes should not touch another person. If they do, an immediate apology is necessary.

Public Customs  Avoid putting your hand on an Indian's head; For example, do not pat an Indian youngster on the head. Indians believe that the head is a sacred part of the body.  Beckon with the palm turned down, flexing fingers rapidly a few times.

Public Customs  In the south, tossing the head from side to side means "yes".  When visiting a mosque, temple Sikh gurdwara or other religious place, be sure to cover your arms and legs. Normally shoes are removed outside places of worship. Women should cover their heads. Some shrines do not permit foreigners. Photography is sometimes forbidden at religious sites.

Cultural Tips  Always do a reconnaissance to understand the versatility and diversity of India.  Don't judge India from your experience with taxi drivers or people in tourist locations.  Communication makes the critical difference.  Never squirm for it is offensive to resist the personal and human touch of friendship.  Never shake hands, touch or sit close or next to a woman.

Cultural Tips  Especially in public places it would be prudent to keep a respectable distance between a man and a woman.  You many never know the mistakes you are making. Cumbersome and if not knotted or worn well could even be a social embarrassment.

Cultural Tips  The Indian wants to know everything at the first meeting don't be offended.  A foreigner’s value is equated to the money that can be obtained from him or her.  The more you want something, behave as if you couldn’t care if you don’t get it.