Things to know when doing business in India

Business are booming not just in America but for India as well. Apparently, these two countries are trading goods and services worth billions of dollars annually. Those numbers greatly represent the growing economy of both countries. Many businesses are starting to.

If you want to start business, do it in Delhi

If you are planning to start a business in India, do it in Delhi. It is like Washington D.C in America. Most businesses are situated there and it is considered the most livable city among all. The government of India are also hiring staffs there. Delhi also has better infrastructure and cleanliness is properly accustomed. You will also find huge number of American corporations there.

Travel throughout India

Staying in one city for business won’t do you good. You need to go forth and take the chance to see other cities for possible business opportunities. At least, you need to venture 5 cities and see if you can capture the market in that particular place.

Starts late and ends late

Breakfast meetings in India mostly starts around 10 – 10:30 while dinner time is also late. Actually, they still have evening tea at around 6 in the evening. When you’re in India, expect to have a totally different timetable of activities.

Last Minute Changes, Prepare Yourself For It

Do not get too consumed when the person you are about to meet changes his mind just a few minutes before your meeting. This circumstances mostly happen in India. This is not new to them. In fact, most Indian businessmen are already accustomed to this. It’s kind of worrisome especially if some changes are made just as you have eagerly prepared for it. However, most business owners in India have fairly adjusted to it and thinks that changes could still happen even in the most awkward time of the day.

English as Primary Business Language

Somehow, English is widely spoken throughout whole India. You won’t have problems when communicating with Indian businessmen because most of them know how to speak English. However, translation can be a lot tricky to them. If they say, ‘no problem’, expect to encounter a lot of problems.

Check Their Religious Calendar Before Booking A trip

You might get disappointed if you get caught up in the middle of a four-day religious holiday in India. That is a fair reason to check further any religious holiday before planning your business trip. India is known to have more religious holidays than the rest of the world. Make sure to avoid it if you do not want to get stuck there for a couple of days.

Last Names Are More Preferred

You cannot simply jump off calling people on the first names in India. Most businessmen or normal citizen would prefer to be called by their last name. This wouldn’t be too difficult as this is already widely practiced all across the world.

Handshake With Women Is Great “NO”

One important custom in India is to never shake hands with women. This should be very important if you do not want to hang your hands in mid-air. Take note that similar to all Arab countries, they consider their women with high regards. This should be a fair reminder to all foreign businessmen who is planning a trip to India.