Facts and Statistics

Azerbaijan Flag

Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Capital: Baku

Borders: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Population: 7,911,974 (July 2005 est.)

Ethnic Makeup: Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census)

Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8%

Language in Azerbaijan

The official language is Azerbaijani or "Azeri", a Turkic language. In 1994 it was estimated that some 82% of Azerbaijan's citizens speak Azerbaijani as their first language. In addition, 38% of Azerbaijanis speak Russian fluently to accommodate Russian domination of the economy and politics.

The Azerbaijani language is part of the 'Oghuz', or 'Western Turkic', group of Turkic languages, together with Anatolian Turkish (spoken in Turkey) and Turkmen (spoken in Turkmenistan). Dialectical differences between Azerbaijani and Anatolian Turkish have been attributed to Mongolian and Turkic influences. Despite these differences, Anatolian Turkish speakers and Azerbaijanis can often understand one another if they speak carefully. Spoken Azerbaijani includes several dialects. Since the nineteenth century, Russian loanwords (particularly technical terms) and grammatical and lexical structures have entered the Azerbaijani language in Russian-controlled Azerbaijan, as have Persian words in Iranian Azerbaijan. The resulting variants remain mutually intelligible, however.

Azeri Society & Culture

The Familymap of azerbaijan

o The family forms the basic social structure in Azerbaijan.

o This goes back to many Azeris' history as rural dwellers where a clan (hoj) would share land and work together to form a tight circle.

o A hoj would sometimes consist of up to 40 members.

o Nowadays the family is a lot smaller - usually a married couple with children and possibly grandparents.

o Families still work as an interdependent unit andexpect to receive both financial and emotional support from others.

o Gender roles are still fairly traditional in much of Azerbaijan with the man being the bread-winner and woman taking care of the domestic side of things.

Hierarchal Society

o Azeris are still a very hierarchical society.

o Culture, traditions, family and religious affiliation often take precedence over official laws.

o When the government has trouble resolving an issue, the president often appeals to the "agh sakkal" (prominent and respected people) to help find a solution. "Agh sakkal" means "white beard".

Folklore and Superstition

o Azeri culture, due to its rural roots and culturally rich tapestry, has many superstitions. Examples include:

- A cat crossing your path means bad luck in business.

- Salt accidentally spilled means you are about to quarrel. Sprinkle sugar on the salt to counter this.

- Leaving scissors with opened blades brings misfortune and even death.

- If you meet a person with empty buckets, you are bound for misfortune.

- If you meet a person with bread and full bags, you will have good luck.

- Never hurry to a funeral ceremony.

- Do not cross the way the funeral train goes.

- If the first person you meet on your way to work is male, you will have good luck.

- Do not lend money or bread at night.

- Throwing a bowl of water in the wake of a person who sets off for a business trip or long journey brings the person luck and helps them to return home safe and sound.

Azeri Customs and Etiquette

Meeting and Greeting

o Like most cultures in the area, Azeris like warm and friendly greetings.

o Men greet each other with a handshake, a kiss on the cheek and "salaam" (literally 'peace' but meaning 'hello').

o Women hug and kiss each other once on the left cheek. Azeri women do not generally shake hands among themselves, although many will shake hands with a foreigner.

o Males should wait and see if a woman extends her hand (although most will the more religious may not) - if they do shake it lightly.

o Always take a moment to ask about family, health and business.

o First names are generally used in social situations if the speakers are of similar ages.

o If you do not know the person well, use their first name followed by an appropriate title. For women, use "hanum" ("woman"). For men, use "bey" ("Mr").

o Younger people always initiate greetings with older people.

Gift Giving Etiquette

o Azeris mainly exchange gifts for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.

o In Azeri culture it is the thought behind the gift, rather than the price, that matters.

o It is customary to refuse a gift at least twice before reluctantly accepting it. Always insist it is too much and the giver should not have gone to any trouble.

o If you are invited to an Azeri's home for dinner, bring flowers or pastries to the hostess. Ask the shop where you buy them to wrap them for you. It is considered polite to reciprocate hospitality with a small gift.

o Always give an odd number of flowers. Even numbers are reserved for funerals.

o Avoid giving alcohol unless you are certain your host partakes.

o Gifts are generally not opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a Azeri home for food:

o Remove your shoes before entering the house. You may be offered slippers to wear.

o Punctuality is not paramount. Arriving within 30 minutes of the stipulated time is socially acceptable,

o Dress casually but smartly. Never wear tight or revealing clothing.

o If there are many people present shake hands with everyone.

o Table manners are fairly formal. If in doubt watch what others do.

o Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.

o Keep your elbows off the table and your hands above the table when eating.

o The hostess generally serves the food. The elderly are served first, then the guests, and finally the children.

o Use your right hand only to eat and to pass things.

Business Etiquette, Customs and Protocol

Communication

o Although direct communication is seen as a postive in Azerbaijan, one also has to be careful to employ such directness.

o Information should always be presented in a way that is diplomatic and sensitive so as not to cause loss of face.

o The level of directness you can use is dictated by who you are speaking with.

o If it is a new, formal or important relationship diplomacy s critical. If the relationship is well developed and a level of openness has been established a little more honesty is fine.

Business Cards

o There is no formal ritual surrounding exchange of cards.

o It is a good idea to take plenty with you as it still forms the basic means of keeping contact details as opposed to electronic means.

o Give and receive cards with your right hand.

Business Meetings

o To arrange a meeting in Azerbaijan an introductory letter is needed outlining your company, history and the purpose of your visit.

o It is always a good idea to have such correspondence translated in Azeri to ensure they understand and it also makes you stand out.

o There is a certain amount of protocol one has to follow in meetings as Azeris are quite sensitive to status, title, who sits down first, enters the room first, etc. It is best to follow the lead.

o Politeness is important and is all part of the relationship building process.

o Discussions will often start slowly over tea and the topics of discussion may be completely irrelevant. However, this is the make or break part of your relationship - if you can not strike up a rapport the chances of doing business together are slim.

o Always maintain eye contact while speaking since Azeris take this as a sign of sincerity. If someone does not look them in the eye while speaking, they think the person has something to hide.

o Decisions are reached slowly.

o Never appear impatient or attempt to rush an Azeri to make a decision.

o Expect a great deal of bargaining and haggling. - Azeris are are tough negotiators.

Facts & Statistics

Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Bordering Countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

Population: 8,857,870 (July 2005 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%

Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%

Language in Bolivia

Spanish is the main and official language of Bolivia. However there are some 39 other living languages used in the country spoken by people in different regions. Examples include Aymara, Chiquitano, Chiriguano and Guyara. Some 50% of the population have an indigenous language as their mother tongue.

Bolivian Spanish as a result of mixing with its indigenous rivals differs from region to region. The vocabulary and pronunciation differs according to where in Bolivia you are, i.e. highlands (Altiplano and valleys) or the lowlands (Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando).

Bolivian Society & Culture

Religion

. Most Bolivians are born into Roman Catholicism.

. Religion tends to be a female dominated activity in terms of attending church and the like.

. Catholicism to some extent has been "localised" as it became intertwined with local folklore and customs in its early years of taking root in the country.

The Family

. The family is the axis of the social life and structure.

. Families are very tight knit and in rural areas, many generations still often live together in one house.

. The extended family or "familia" serves as a strong support and network system.

. Roles within the family are very traditional - "Machismo" is very much alive.

. The wife is generally responsible for domestic duties whereas the husband with be the bread winner.

. The machismo mentality often translates into a feeling of male superiority and a strong sense of honour which means maintaining face/dignity at all cost.

Classes

. Due to Bolivia's history a number of differing ethnic groups have converged which now form a class system.

. Bolivia is basically made up of a small number of whites, a larger group of 'mestizos' (intermarriage of whites with indigenous Indians), a majority of native Indians ('Quechua' or 'Aymara') and a small number of blacks who are descended from the slaves imported during the Spanish colonial period.

. Traditionally the whites minority occupy the top rung on the class ladder. This is mainly due to socioeconomic factors rather than skin colour.

Etiquette and Customs in Boliviamap of bolivia

Meeting & Greeting

. The handshake is the most common form of greeting.

. Direct eye contact is also usual.

. When meeting people will use the most appropriate greeting for the time of day - these are "buenos dias" (good morning), "buenas tardes" (good day), or "buenas noches"(good evening).

. People with an informal relationship will be warmer and embrace or pat each other on the shoulder. Women will kiss on the cheek.

. Unlike Europeans Bolivians use both their maternal and paternal surnames. The father's surname is listed first and is the one used in conversation.

. When a woman gets married she usually adds her husband's first surname to her first surname with the connector "de", so if Jennifer Maria Lopez marries Manuel Sebastien Costa, she would be called Jennifer Maria de Costa.

. If you know of someone's title always use it.

Gift Giving Etiquette

Gifts are usually given at birthdays, Christmas and New Year.

The general rule is by good quality but price is not too important.

Some general gift giving tips include:

. Take flowers, spirits, pastries, sweets/chocolates if invited to a house for Do not give yellow or purple flowers as they have negative connotations.

. Do not give scissors or knives as they indicate a desire to sever the relationship.

. Gifts are not generally opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

Here are some general dining etiquette tips:

. Punctuality is not expected - arrive a good 20 to 30 minutes late.

. It is not good form to discuss business at social functions -concentrate of getting to know people on a personal level.

. At a table the guest is served first.

. The host generally says "buen provecho" ("enjoy" or "have a good meal") to invite guests to eat.

. Keep elbows off the table.

. It is considered polite to refuse food the first time it is offered and wait for the hist to insist before accepting.

. Always use utensils - even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork.

. Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your drink.

. The host makes the first toast.

. The most common toast is "Salud!"

. When you lift your glass, look at the person being toasted.

. Never leave straight after a meal - you should stay for at least half an hour.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Meeting & Greetingetiquette in bolivia

. Bolivians tend to be formal in their business dealings.

. It is always best to maintain a level of professionalism.

. Shake hands when meeting and leaving.

. Wait for a woman to extend her hand.

. Eye contact is important.

. Professional or academic titles with the surname are used in business. Common titles are "Doctor" (medical doctor or Ph.D.), "Ingeniero" (engineer), and "Licenciado" (lawyer or university degree).

. If someone does not have a title, the honorific titles Señor or Señora are used with the surname.

Business Cards

. Business cards are exchanged during the initial introductions.

. Try and have one side of your business card translated into Spanish.

. Make sure to include any academic qualifications on your card.

Meetings

. Relationship building is important in Bolivia so initial meetings should always be about establishing trust and learning a little about each other.

. Wait for the other party to move the conversation on to business.

. Meetings are generally relaxed affairs but there is always a sense of formality that should be adhered to.

. Meeting schedules are not very structured in Bolivia. There may be an agenda and a starting time, but they serve as guidelines only and may act as a springboard to other related business ideas and further discussion.

. Time is not considered more important than completing a meeting satisfactorily, therefore meetings will continue until the discussion is completed.

. Be careful not to be too direct in your communication style - negative responses should be diplomatically put so as not to cause a loss of face or dignity.

. Most business is conducted in Spanish so try and arrange for your own interpreter.

. Similarly have any materials translated into Spanish.

. Do not rush meetings or show impatience.

. Decisions are not generally reached at meetings - don't pressure people into making them.

. Meetings are simply for discussion and to exchange ideas.

Facts and Statistics

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania.

Capital: Nairobi.

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior.

Population: 36,913,721 (estimated - July 2007.)

Ethnic Make-up: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%.

Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%.

Government: republic

The Language

Kenya is a multilingual country. Although the official languages are Swahili and English, there are actually a total of 62 languages spoken in the country (according to Ethnologue). These mainly consist of tribal African languages as well as a minority of Middle-Eastern and Asian languages spoken by descendants of foreign settlers (i.e. Arabic, Hindi, etc). The African languages come from three different language families - Bantu languages (spoken in the center and southeast), Nilotic languages (in the west), and Cushitic languages (in the northeast).

Kenyan Society and Culture

The Kenyan People

Kenya is not a homogenous country ethnicity wise. The make-up of Kenyans is primarily that of 13 ethnic groups with an additional 27 smaller groups. The majority of Kenyans belong to ‘Bantu’ tribes such as the Kikuyu, Luhya and Kamba. There are also the ‘Nilotic’ tribes such as the Luo, Kalenjin, Maasai and Turkana. The ‘Hamitic’ people include the Turkana, Rendille and Samburu. Around 13% of the population are of non-African descent, i.e. Indian, Arab and European.

Religion

The Kenyan Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Around half the population are Christians, 10% Muslim and there are small Hindu and Sikh minorities. The balance of the population follows traditional African, often animist, beliefs. Christians tend to be concentrated in the west and central sections of the country while Muslims cluster in the eastern coastal regions. Most Kenyans interweave native beliefs into a traditional religion.

Group Orientation

Kenyans are group-orientated rather than individualistic. “Harambee,” (coming from the Bantu word meaning “to pull together”) defines the people’s approach to others in life. The concept is essentially about mutual assistance, mutual effort, mutual responsibility and community self-reliance. This principle has historically been practiced by every ethnic group with its roots in cooperative farming or herding. Harambee took on a more political resonance when used at the time of independence by Jomo Kenyatta as a way to bring people together.

The Role of the Family

As you might expect in a group-orientated culture, the extended family is the basis of the social structure. It includes relatives on both sides of the family as well as close friends. Quite often the husband’s parents will live with the nuclear family when they get older and can no longer care for themselves. When people marry, they join their families, thus ensuring that there will always be a group to turn to in times of need.

Ancestors

Like most Africans, Kenyans place a large emphasis on the respect and reverence of their deceased ancestors. This is not ancestor worship per se, but rather a belief that when someone dies their spirit lives on and must be acknowledged. The belief is that the person only really dies completely when their relatives no longer remember them.

One’s ancestors are thought to be able to influence events in life since they are in a limbo state and closer to God than the living. Therefore, they may make offerings to them or name a baby after one so that his spirit can live in the child. Demonstrating respect towards ancestors is believed to maintain harmonious relationships within the family, extended family, and clan or tribe.

Etiquette and Customs in Kenya

Map of Kenya

Meeting and Greeting

• The most common greeting is the handshake.

• When greeting someone with whom you have a personal relationship, the handshake is more prolonged than the one given to a casual acquaintance.

• Close female friends may hug and kiss once on each cheek instead of shaking hands.

• When greeting an elder or someone of higher status, grasp the right wrist with the left hand while shaking hands to demonstrate respect.

• Muslim men/women do not always shake hands with women/men.

• The most common greeting is “Jambo?” (“How are you?”), which is generally said immediately prior to the handshake.

• After the handshake it is the norm to ask questions about the health, their family, business and anything else you know about the person.

• To skip or rush this element in the greeting process is the height of poor manners.   

• People are generally addressed by their academic, professional or honorific title followed by their surname.

• Once a personal relationship has developed, you may be able to address a person by their title and first name, first name alone, or nickname. Wait for the Kenyan to determine that your friendship has reached this level of intimacy.                

• Women over the age of 21 are often addressed as “Mama” and men over the age of 35 are often addressed as “Mzee”. Children generally refer to adults as Aunt or Uncle, even if there is not a familial relationship. 

Gift Giving

• In general, Kenyans give gifts for events of significance in a person’s life or days of religious significance.

• Gifts need not be expensive. In fact, practical gifts are preferred. Kenya is a poor country and a gift of something that the person cannot generally afford is always welcome.

• It is customary to give small gifts to servants, trades people, and service workers at Christmas.

• If invited to dinner at a Kenyan’s home, bring pastries, flowers, or sweets for the hostess. In rural areas, gifts of sugar or tea are quite common.

• Gifts should be nicely wrapped, although there are no prohibitions concerning the colour of paper.

• Do not bring alcohol unless you know that your host drinks.

• Gifts should be given using the right hand only or both hands. Never use the left hand.

Dining Etiquette

• Kenyans table manners are relatively formal.

• Dining patterns vary tremendously according to ethnicity, location and socio-economic position of the host.

• The best course of action is to behave formally. When is doubt, watch what others are doing and follow their lead.

• Except for formal functions, there is generally not a seating plan. However, there may be a special place for the most honoured guest.

• Guests are expected to wash their hands before and after the meal. In some homes, a washing basin will be brought to the table. If so, hold your hands over the basin while water is poured over them.

• The honoured guest is usually served first, followed by the men, children, and women.

• Servants often bring the courses to individual guests who are expected to take what they want.

• Do not begin eating until the eldest male has been served and started eating.

• It is a good idea to take a small amount the first time the platters are brought so that you may take second helpings when urged.

• Beverages are not generally served with meals since Kenyans think it is impolite to eat and drink at the same time. They are generally served at the completion of the meal.

• It is considered polite to finish everything on your plate, although it is not mandatory.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Doing business in Kenya

Communication Style

Direct and frank communication is not the norm in Kenya. Kenyans will always attempt to qualify what they say so that the message is delivered in a sensitive way. This comes down to wanting to protect people’s face and the relationship. If the relationship is intimate the communication style will become more direct. For newly established and more formal relationships, diplomacy will be of utmost importance.

In their attempt not to cause problems, Kenyans often use metaphors, analogies and stories to make a point. They are uncomfortable with blunt statements. If you are from a culture that prizes directness, you may wish to moderate your delivery style. It is also up to you to read between the lines and decipher what may really being said. With this in mind, criticism should be delivered in private and given in a circumspect manner.

Kenyans may gesture for emphasis when speaking. Loud voices are generally only used during disagreements in business situations, although in rural areas, louder speaking tones are the norm. Showing anger is considered a sign of mental instability. Kenyans pride themselves on their emotional control and expect the same in others.

Since maintaining honor and dignity are paramount, Kenyans may offer what they believe is the expected response rather than say something that might embarrass the other person. They often go out of their way to keep from doing something that could bring shame to another person. They expect business colleagues and superiors to inquire about their family before beginning a business discussion.

Meeting and Greeting

• Handshakes are the most common greeting in business.

• When being introduced to someone for the first time, the handshake is short, while handshakes among people with a personal relationship are longer.

• It is a sign of respect to lower your eyes when greeting someone of a higher status or someone who is obviously older than you.

• Men should wait for a woman to extend her and first.

• To rush a greeting is extremely rude. Take the time to inquire about the other person’s general well-being, family, and business in general.

• Titles are important. Use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the surname.

• Wait to be invited before moving to a first name basis.

• Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.

• Present and receive business cards with two hands.

Business Meetings

Meeting schedules may be structured or not at all depending upon the ownership of the company. In British or Indian owned companies, agendas will be used and followed.

As relationships are important in Kenya, devote time to small talk in order to get to know your hosts and vice-versa. It is a good idea to allow your Kenyan hosts determine when it is time to begin the business discussion.

Meetings seldom have scheduled ending times since what matters is finishing the meeting in a satisfactory manner to all concerned. In fact, Kenyans are amused at the concept of an ending time, since they believe the meeting only ends when all parties are finished.

Kenyans value tradition. Therefore, it is a good idea to provide a historical framework or context when attempting to introduce a new idea or process. They may ask questions until they feel comfortable and are able to proceed satisfactorily.

Facts and Statistics

Location: Northern Europe, Scandinavia, bordering Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

Capital: Helsinki

Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Population: 5,214,512 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%

Government: republic

Language in Finland

Of the two official languages of Finland, Finnish is the first language spoken by 93% of the country's 5 million inhabitants. Finnish, unlike Scandinavian languages, is not Germanic but in a class of its own. Theoretically, it is related to Hungarian but in practice the two are not mutually comprehensible.

The other official language, Swedish, is spoken by around 6% of the population, most of whom live in the south west and are also speakers of Finnish. Sami is a minority language in Scandinavia that is spoken by around 2,000 people living in the north of Finland, which is 0.03% of the Finnish population.

Finnish Culture & Society

Nordic but not Scandinavian

. Finland along with Iceland is Nordic rather than Scandinavian.

. This is reflected in their language which is not Germanic in origin.

. While many social values are the same, there are subtle differences with Scandinavians.

Finnish Egalitarianism

. Finland is an egalitarian society, which is reflected in their language, which employs gender-neutral words.

. Finns are very modest and downplay their own accomplishments.

. They view being humble and modest as virtues.

Finnish Behaviour

. Finns believe there is a proper way to act in any circumstance and always expect courteous behaviour.

. Talk in moderate tones and do not do anything to call attention to yourself.

. Serial conversation is the rule - i.e. listen to the speaker, wait for them to finish and then reply. Interrupting is rude.

Fancy a Sauna?

. The sauna has a special role in the domestic life of Finns.

. It is an experience shared with family and friends.

. Important business meetings may be followed by a sauna in which the conversation is continued on a more informal basis.

. Saunas are found everywhere: At the end of calendar year 2002, there were 1,212,000 saunas in private apartments and another 800,000 in summer cottages and public swimming pools. This translates to more than 2,000,000 saunas for a population of 5.2 million.

Etiquette and Customs in Finland

Finnish Meeting Etiquette

. Greetings are formal, with a firm handshake, direct eye contact, and a smile.

. It is common practice to repeat your first and surname while shaking hands.

. When greeting a married couple, the wife should be greeted first.

Finnish Gift Giving Etiquette

. If you are invited to a Finn's home, bring flowers, good quality chocolates or wine to the host.

. Flowers should not be given in even numbers.

. Do not give white or yellow flowers since they are used at funerals.

. Do not give potted plants.

. Gifts are opened when received.

Finnish Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a Finn's home:

. Arrive on time. Finns are punctual in both business and social situations.

. Remove your outdoor shoes before entering the house.

. Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she would like you to bring a dish.

. Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served.

. If you are invited for coffee and cake, there may be as many as 7 cakes to sample.

. Do not discuss business.

. Thank the hosts for the hospitality before saying good-bye to the other guests.

Table Manners

. Wait to be told where to sit.

. Table manners are Continental -- hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

. Always keep your hands visible when eating. Keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table.

. Do not begin eating until the hostess invites you to start.

. Bread and shrimp are the only foods eaten by hand. Even fruit is eaten with utensils.

. Accept second helpings.

. When passing salt and pepper shakers, put them on the table within the person's reach. Do not give them directly.

. Men should keep their jacket on at meals unless the host removes his.

. Finish everything on your plate. Finns do not appreciate waste.

. When you have finished eating, place your knife and fork across your plate with the prongs facing down and the handles facing to the right.

Finnish Business Etiquette and Protocol

Relationships & CommunicationBusiness etiquette finland

. Finns are transactional and do not need long-standing personal relationships in order to conduct business.

. The basic business style is formal - i.e. there is relatively little small talk and Finns prefer people to speak succinctly and to focus purely on business.

. Finns do not require face-to- face contact and, in fact, are quite comfortable using e- mail.

. Finns are excellent time managers who prefer to organize their workday in order to accomplish as much as possible.

. Finns are interested in long- term relationships.

. Relationship building often takes place outside the office: in a restaurant or the sauna.

. Never turn down an invitation to use the sauna, as it is an entrenched part of the Finnish culture.

. Finns place a great value on speaking plainly and openly.

. What someone says is accepted at face value and this is a culture where "a man's word is his bond" and will be treated as seriously as a written contract, so verbal commitments are considered agreements.

. Finns are direct communicators. Expect your colleagues to tell you what they think rather than what you want to hear.

. Professional differences are not viewed as personal attacks.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are necessary and should be made in advance by telephone, e- mail, or fax.

. It is extremely difficult to meet with people without a formal appointment.

. Do not schedule meetings between June and August as many Finns take vacation during the summer

. You should arrive at meetings on time or slightly early.

. Telephone immediately if you will be detained more than 5 minutes. Being punctual is a sign of respect and efficiency.

. Expect a bare minimum of small talk, if any, before getting into the business discussion.

. Send an agenda before the meeting as well as the biographies of your team.

. Meetings begin and end on time.

. Avoid hype, exaggerated claims, or bells and whistles in your presentation.

. Finns seldom ask questions. The presenter is expected to make his/her case with sufficient detail that their Finnish colleagues do not need to ask questions.

. There is no taboo on humour in the business environment.

Dress Etiquette

. Business attire is stylish and conservative.

. Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits.

. Women should wear conservative business suits, trouser suits, or dresses.

Business Card Etiquette

. Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.

. Present your business card so it is readable to the recipient.

. Treat someone's business card with respect as it symbolizes the way you will treat them.

Facts and Statistics

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Capital: Tallinn

Climate: Maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Population: 1,341,664 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish

Language in Estonia

Estonian is the official language of Estonia. It is spoken by about 1.1 million people in the country itself and then thousands of others outside it too. Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language and is closely related to Finnish and distantly to Hungarian. It has been influenced by German, Russian, Swedish and Latvian, though it is not related to them.

Estonian Culture & Society

Religion

o During Soviet administration religion became a form of silent protest for most Estonians.

o Since independence religious organizations have again begun to appear.

The largest church is the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

o In 1989, the largest churches established the Council of Estonian Churches (CEC) with the purpose of uniting the different churches to promote spiritual development for all Estonians

The Role of the Family Map of Estonia

o The family is still the central focus of social life.

o The make up of the family is usually "nuclear" in cities and "extended" in rural areas although this is a slight generalisation.

o Family ties and very close which means newly weds will often live with parents until on their feet and the old are generally looked after rather than put in care homes.

Hierarchy in Estonian Society

o Estonia is a hierarchical society.

o Age, experience and position earn respect.

o Older people are generally viewed as wiser and as a result revered and honoured. Elders are introduced first and in general are treated much like royalty.

o Those in senior positions bear the responsibility to make decisions in the interest of the group.

o Due to seniority titles are very important when addressing people.

o It is expected that you will use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name.

Cultural Traditions

o Estonian culture as an identity is very strong.

o Oral traditions especially have played a key role in preserving traditions, stories and customs during Soviet administration.

o Singing is a very Estonian activity and the Estonians are known to have sung their way to freedom during the "Singing Revolution" of 1989-91.

Manners

o Estonians on the whole are quiet and reserved.

o They tend to speak softly and do not like to draw attention to themselves.

o Being rational, calm and not going to emotional extremes are all qualities that respected.

o At first Estonians can come across as aloof. Once a relationship warms up this becomes less so.

 Etiquette and Customs in Estonia

Meeting and Greeting

o Greetings can come across as rather formal and rather reserved.

o Men should initiate greetings with women and the younger person always greets the older person.

o When meeting someone make sure you are stood up, offer direct eye contact and give a nice firm handshake.

o The most common greeting is "tere" ("hello").

Titles are very important. "Härra" is for Mr, "Prova" is Mrs and "Preili" is Miss. All should be followed with the surname.

o Only use first names once you have been invited to do so.

Gift Giving Etiquette

o Gifts are usually exchanged for birthdays and at Christmas.

o Gifts need not be expensive as it is more about the thought than monetary worth.

o If you are invited to an Estonian's house, a decent gift is a bring a box of chocolates or flowers.

o Flowers should be given in odd numbers.

o Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

o Arrive on time. Punctuality is expected. Call if running late.

o Check to see if shoes are being worn in the house.

o Do not expect a tour of the house - homes are private.

o Dress conservatively.

o Try and offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. This will be turned down but is nonetheless polite.

o Do not discuss business.

o Reciprocate any hospitality received.

Table Manners

o Table manners are relatively formal in Estonia.

o Remain standing until invited to sit down.

o Table manners are Continental, i.e. the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

o Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone says "head isu" ("good appetite").

o Avoid resting your elbows of the table.

o Compliment the hostess on the meal.

o Try to finish everything on your plate.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Meeting & GreetingEtiquette in Estonia

o Estonians are quite formal and may not come across as quote cold or even friendly to people from more informal cultures. This should not be interpreted so.

o Once the relationship warms up the communication style becomes a lot less stiff.

o Shake hands with everyone at the meeting.

o Remember it is rude to greet someone while seated.

o Handshakes should be firm and confident.

o Maintain steady eye contact while shaking hands.

o Try and wait for a woman to extend her hand.

o Address businesspeople by their professional title and their surname.

o If someone does not have a professional title, use "Härra" to address a man and "Prova" to address a woman.

o Wait until invited before moving to a first name basis.

Business Card Etiquette

o Business cards are exchanged without any fuss or ritual.

o Present your business card so it is readable to the recipient.

o Treat someone's business card with respect.

o Having the other side of your card translated into Estonian is a nice gesture.

Communication Style

o Estonians mean what they say and do what they say they will do.

o They expect foreign businesspeople to keep their word.

o Failing to do so can cause irreparable harm to a business relationship.

o They are generally polite and courteous speakers.

o Estonians are somewhat pragmatic and reserved, especially in the early stages of developing a business relationship.

o Estonians are not emotive speakers.

o If you are from a culture where hand gestures are robust, you may wish to moderate them to conform to local practices.

o Soft voices are the norm. If you have a booming voice, you may wish to moderate it when conducting business with Estonians.

o Estonians do not always respond to what has been said, especially if they are uncomfortable with the subject or if they need more time to organize their thoughts.

o Although they are direct communicators, Estonians temper their directness in order to protect the feelings of all concerned.

o They are slow to pay compliments and may become suspicious of compliments offered too readily and without sufficient reason.

o Passive silence is very much part of the communication style.

o Estonians are not fond of conversational overlap and will not think highly of someone who interrupts them while they are speaking.

o Estonians value their good reputations. Therefore, be careful not to criticize or embarrass anyone publicly.

Business Meeting Etiquette

o Meetings generally begin with a welcoming speech from the most senior Estonian at the meeting. The most senior person from your team should respond with a short speech.

o It is common to continue meetings over lunch or dinner, although the conversation will tend to be social, rather than business oriented.

o These seemingly social occasions are an opportunity for your Estonian colleagues to get to know you as an individual and develop a personal relationship.

o Since this is a culture that prefers to do business with friends, consider time spent at meals as important as time spent at the negotiating table.

o Although Estonians juxtapose business and social situations, it is important to maintain a formal demeanour at meetings.

o Estonians dislike an overly casual attitude towards business, especially from foreigners.

o It generally takes several meetings to reach a decision. In most cases, decisions are still made at the top of the company, so unless you are meeting with the top echelon of the company, what you propose will have to make its way up the chain of command for approval.

o Older businesspeople are generally only fluent in Estonian or Russian. Therefore, you may wish to have an interpreter with you at meetings.

Facts and Statistics

Bangladesh Flag

Capital: Dhaka

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Population: 144,319,628 (July 2005 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims

Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1%

Languages in Bangladesh

The official language is Bangla, also known as Bengali. It is the first language of more than 98 percent of the population. It is written in its own script, derived from that of Sanskrit. Many people in Bangladesh also speak English and Urdu.

Bangla vocabulary shows many influences. These include a strong Islamic influence seen in the greetings of "Salaam aleykum" (Peace be unto you) and "Khoda hafez" (God Bless you) and nouns from the Arab world such as "dokan" (shop), "tarikh"(date), "kolom"(pen) and "bonduk" (gun). In West Bengal the Hindu influence is greater with the use of the Hindu greeting "Namashkar".

English has also had an influence on Bangla. During the days of the Raj many words of English origin such as "tebil" (table), "tiffin" (archaic in modern day English meaning snack box) entered Bangla. In more recent time the ever rising global nature of English has lead to words such as "television", "telephone", "video" and "radio" being adopted by Bangla. However, unlike India, there has never been the need for English as a lingua franca and thus Bangla is the state language of Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi Culture & Society

HierarchyMap of Bangladesh

. Bangladesh is a hierarchical society.

. People are respected because of their age and position.

. Older people are naturally viewed as wise and are granted respect.

. Bangladeshis expect the most senior male, by age or position, to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group. This is also valid in businesses, the majority of which will be family owned/run.

Religion

. The majority of Bangladeshis are Muslim. However, most still very much mix this with pre-Islam folk traditions.

. Bangladeshis identify with the folk traditions of Bengali culture. This includes belief in shamanism and the powers of fakirs (Muslim holy men who are exorcists and faith healers), ojhaa (shamins with magical healing powers), and Bauls (religious mendicants and wandering musicians).

. There is a strong tradition of music, dance, and literature that includes classical devotions of Hindu and Muslim music.

Festivals

. Islam defines many of the festivals in Bangaldesh. These include two Eids (one after Ramadan and one after the Hajj) Shab-e-Qadr (the night of power), Milad un-Nabi (birth date of the Prophet Muhammad) and Shab-e-Barat (the night of the fortune).

. Hindu influences festivals include Durga Puja and Kali Puja (community worshipping of Goddess Durga and Kali).

. On the whole an entire community participates in each other's religious ceremonies.

Customs and Etiquette in Bangladesh

Meeting & Greeting

. Greetings usually take place between members of the same sex.

. The hand shake is common although they may feel rather limp.

. Women will only really be met within business contexts and even so, it is best to wait to see if a hand is extended before doing so.

. The traditional greeting for Muslims is Asalamu alaikum to which the response is wa alaikum salam.

. Naming conventions are very much based on the hierarchical nature of Bangladeshi society.

. Bangladeshis will append a suffix to a person's name to denote respect and the level of closeness between the two people.

. In general, age dictates how people are addressed.

. If people are of the same age, they use first names.

. If the person being addressed is older than the speaker, the person is called by their first name and a suffix that denotes the family relationship.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. Gifts are mainly given between family members at religious holidays, especially after Ramadan and Hajj.

. In cities, it is becoming more common for gifts to be given on birthdays.

. In Bangladesh the importance of gifts is in the thought rather than the value. Part of the reason lies in the fact that gifts should be generally reciprocated and it would be considered rude to offer someone a gift that is difficult to reciprocate. 

Some general gift giving etiquette guidelines include:

. When visiting a Bangladeshi's home, it is more common to bring pastries, sweets or good quality chocolates.

. If bringing flowers avoid frangipanis as they are used at funerals.

. Similarly white flowers indicate mourning.

. Do not give alcohol or products containing non-halal meat to Muslims.

. Never give money.

. It is considered bad form to open gifts in front of the giver.

. Gifts are given with two hands.

Dining Etiquette

. If meeting with people for dinner here are some basic rules on etiquette and protocol:

. If invited to a meal it is rude to flatly turn the invitation down. One should always use less direct language to suggest that it may be difficult such as "I will try." or "I will have to see".

. Meals both inside the house and outside will usually be same sex.

. Many people eat with their hands and it may be that you share food from a common dish.

. It would not be seen as impolite if you asked for utensils.

. Ensure you wash your hands before eating.

. Guests are generally served first then the oldest, continuing in order of seniority.

. Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins.

. You will constantly be urged to take more food. Simply saying "I'm full" will be taken as a polite gesture and not accepted at face value. It is therefore always best to pace yourself to allow for more servings.

. The left hand is considered unclean so only eat, pass dishes or drink with the right hand.

Business Etiquette, Protocol and Customs in Bangladesh

Communication StylesCustoms and Etiquette Bangladesh

. Bangladeshis are quite implicit/indirect communicators. They tend to communicate in long, rich and contextualized sentences which only make sense when properly understood in relation to body language.

. It is important for people who come from implicit/direct cultures to understand that their communication styles may be seen as rude and the information provided inadequate.

. Personal space is less of an issue in Bangladesh than many European cultures. Bengalis stand close when speaking to someone of the same gender and touch is common.

. However, when speaking with a woman the space is often increased.

Meeting & Greeting

. Business etiquette in Bangladesh is reasonably formal. Proper behaviour is expected.

. Men greet each other with a handshake upon arriving and leaving.

. Foreign men should nod to a Bangladeshi woman unless she extends her hand. Businessmen should be addressed by the term "Bahadur" ("Sir"), while women may be addressed as "Begum" ("Madam"). This may be used with or without the surname.

. Wait until your counterpart moves to a first name basis before you do so.

Business Card Etiquette

. Business cards are exchanged after the initial introduction.

. Educational qualifications are valued so include any university degrees.

. Present your business card with the right hand.

. Treat business cards given to you with respect. Merely glancing at it then throwing it on the table would be rude. Study it, comment on it and ideally place it into a business card holder.

Business Meetings

. Meetings in Bangladesh are generally the place where decisions are disseminated rather than made.

. They will usually be led by the most senior present who sets the agenda, the content, and the pace of the activities.

. Meeting structures are not very linear in Bangladesh. There may be an agenda and a starting time, but they only serve as guidelines.

. Completing a meeting fully takes priority over time and may extend well past any scheduled end time.

. Meetings may commence with some small talk.

. Communication is formal and follows a hierarchical structure. Deference to the most senior person in the group is expected. This is especially true when dealing with government officials.

. One should never let their level of professionalism slip. Casual behaviour may be misinterpreted as a lack of respect.

. Never lose your temper or show emotion. This may lead to a loss of face which will mean a loss of dignity and respect.

. The need to avoid a loss of face is also reflected in communication styles. Rather than say no or disappoint people Bangladeshis will phrase sentiments in such as way that it is up to people to read between the lines to understand what is being implied. Phrases such as "we will try", "that may be difficult", or "we will have to give that some though" may really mean "this can't be done".

. Therefore, it is important to ask questions in several ways so you can be certain what was meant by a vague response. Silence is often used as a communication tool.

. Many people comment on the lack of smiles in Bangladesh. This has nothing to do with unfriendliness but rather related to the fact that a serious face is believed to demonstrate maturity.