Background
Albania is
located on the Southeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with Italy to the West
and Greece to the South. Albania has a population of about 3 million people,
with Tirana, the capital of Albania, home to more than 1 million
Albanians.
Albania is
considered a Muslim country, with 70% of the population following this
religion. Orthodox Christians make up approximately 20% of the population, and
Catholic Christians 10%.
Languages
The dominant and
official language is Albanian, a revised and merged form of the country’s two
main dialects, Gheg and Tosk. Some useful Albanian phrases to remember for your
trip include:
C'kemi,
si jeni?
|
Hello,
how are you?
|
Gezohem
qe te takova
|
Pleased
to meet you
|
Kam
ardhur këtu me punë
|
I’m
here on business
|
Si
mund të shkoj X?
|
How
can I get to X?
|
Mirupafshim
së shpejti!
|
See
you soon!
|
There is a minority of Greeks residing in Albania, who also speak a certain dialect of Greek. Other languages spoken by ethnic minorities in Albania include Aromanian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Gorani, and Roma.
Business etiquette
Meeting etiquette
Albanians shake
hands when meeting strangers and they kiss or hug the men and women they
consider close acquaintances or good friends. Sometimes these circles will
include the potential foreign business partners they have just met. Business
cards are not mandatory and there is no custom of exchanging business cards at
either the beginning or the end of a meeting.
Communications and negotiations
Most young
Albanians (younger than 35 years old) speak fluent English and often other
languages, mainly Italian. Most government officials speak English or some
other European language (French, Italian, German or Greek) to some extent.
However, this may not always be true with private enterprises. In any
case, interpreters are widely used for all types of meetings, and sometimes the
interpreter also works as the assistant or secretary of the Albanian
entrepreneur/businessman. There are many able Albanian translators and
interpreters who may be hired at hourly or daily rates.
One useful point to remember is that a nod of the head in Albania means “no” and shaking of the head means “yes”. This can be confusing, and it is therefore safer to ask that your business acquaintance verbalises what is meant when asked a “yes” or “no” question.
Payments
Bank
transfers
and credit card payments are possible, although most Albanians prefer
cash. The Euro and the U.S. dollar are two preferred
currencies used for payments. In stores and markets foreigners may be
charged
more than locals, especially since most items may not have their prices
advertised. Use of the old and new “lek”, which is the local currency in
Albania can be confusing so it may be worth seeking further advice on
this.
Eating etiquette
Albanian cuisine
has been influenced by Greek, Turkish and Italian cuisines, having been
occupied by these countries at various periods in history. The main meal in Albania is the midday meal,
which is usually accompanied by a salad of fresh vegetables.
Albanians take
pride in one of their most well-known spirit “raki” – (pronounced “raikee”),
made of grape juice and as strong as vodka – and will insist that their foreign
guests at least try some of this drink. It is considered impolite to
refuse at least a taste of this Albanian speciality.
Albanians usually
pay for their guests’ meals the first time they are having lunch or dinner with
guests. There is a tacit understanding that the second time, their guests
will repay this courtesy.
Gifts
Gifts are very
important for Albanians and are generally expected of special guests. Money or
flowers are not generally given as gifts. Good gifts include works of art
from your home country, such as small paintings, sculptures, and other
memorabilia suitable for decorating your business associate’s office.
Cultural awareness
In 2007, Albania
adopted a smoking ban for closed public areas. However, although the law
technically forbids smoking in public spaces like restaurants, bars and work
places etc, Albanians regularly smoke in these areas.
This post has, hopefully, taught
you something about the intricacies of Albanian business culture. There is,
however, a lot more to learn: a professional lifetime’s worth. At TJC Global,
our interpreters are experts in Albanian practice as much as they are experts
in the language. To find out how our services can assist you on your next
business trip to Albania, visit TJC Oxford,
or contact us.