Doing Business in Albania

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.

Doing Business in Belarus

Belarus is a former Soviet Union republic which became an independent country in 1991. It is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordering Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The population of Belarus is 10 million people, with 2 million living in the capital Minsk. In the past Belarus has experienced centuries of invasion and conquest. Between 1941 and 1944 the country was occupied by the Nazis, and it has lost 2.2 million people, including most of its large Jewish population. 

Nowadays, Belarus is an important transit route for Russian gas supplies to parts of Western Europe. Belarus is also a major exporter of machinery, chemical and petroleum products. Today Belarus is still largely unexploited by the world’s businessman, but its convenient geographical location between Europe and Russia and plenty of intellectual potential provide an excellent environment for successful business. In turbulent economic times, the Belarus economy has also been less affected than those which rely on global markets, and market analysts predict a robust growth for the economy of Belarus. Setting up and doing business in this country will be challenging, but do not be afraid of the hard work, as your efforts will pay off in the end. 

Language 

The Belarusian language (also known as White Russian) has been the official language since 1990, before which it was Russian. The majority of the population speaks both Russian and Belarusian, and in addition many people also speak Ukrainian and Polish. A number of businessmen are fluent in English, but because the legal system of the country is quite complicated, it is strongly recommended that a professional interpreter is employed when one is doing business in Belarus.

Meeting People

The Belarusians are often referred to as ‘the most patient Slavs’. Rather than getting involved in conflict, they would prefer to sort out any kind of problem through peaceful negotiation. In public, Belarussians are quite restrained. However, if you are greeted very enthusiastically and with a hug and/or a kiss, then you know that a good relationship has been established.

One of the typical weekend activities for Belarusians is working at their ‘dachas’ (country houses) growing fruit and vegetables. If you are travelling around by car, try to avoid driving on Friday nights especially during the summer, as roads are jammed with lots of people on their way to ‘dachas’ outside the cities. Belarusians are very proud of their plots of land, so do not be surprised by the excitement of a successful local businessman when showing you his tomato plants!

Belarusian Business

Business meetings in Belarus are quite formal. It is essential to make an appointment with your partner before your visit to Belarus. Avoid doing business in the first week of May as it has several public holidays. All foreigners staying in Belarus, whether on a short visit or on a work permit, are required to register with the local department of the Office of Visas and Registration (OVIR) within three days of arrival in Belarus. If you are staying in a hotel they will arrange this for you.

As bureaucracy is still very cumbersome in the country, to speed things up you can try to find a third party (preferably someone local with a good reputation and a good network of associates) who can act as your guarantor. As the level of taxation is quite high and legal regulations are quite complicated, it may also be worth looking into hiring a local lawyer or independent legal consultant.

Patience during business negotiations will always pay off. It is important to be open to concessions and be prepared to concede at least some minor things.

The Belarusian ruble (BR) is the only currency that can be used for any transactions that take place in Belarus. To account for potential currency fluctuations, business-to-business negotiations are often carried out in US dollars or euros, particularly if a foreign party is involved. But once agreed, payment is made in BR at the current exchange rate. Payments in other currencies are only permissible if made from outside Belarus.

This post has, hopefully, taught you something about the intricacies of Belarusian business culture. There is, however, a lot more to learn: a professional lifetime’s worth. At TJC Global, our interpreters are experts in Belarusian 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 Belarus, visit TJC Oxford, or contact us.