Republic
of Bolivia
Republic
of Bolivia
1. General
Bolivia
is located in South America. The most important cities in Bolivia are La Paz,
Cochabamba and Santa Cruz because of the increase population and developed
economics. Santa Cruz has hot weather almost all the year but only between June
and July is very cold and rainy. In Santa Cruz the airport is 20 minutes from
downtown so it is better to take a taxi to go to your destination. You can take
the bus but it is better to take taxi if you don’t know the city very well.
The people are very friendly so you can ask all the information that you need.
2.
Clothing
Especially
for business the clothes have to be formal usually if a very important meeting
the men wear suits without jackets because of the weather but sometimes people
wear the jacket but not always. A tie is also important but it is not necessary.
For businesswomen the clothes have to be formal they can wear skirts or pants
and blouse.
3.
Business Greetings
In
Santa Cruz the greetings if you have some business meeting for women and men is
the same, give the right hand to other person this is a very formal greeting
especially for people that have never meet. But the regular greeting between
friends is to give one kiss on the check but this greeting we use between:
woman-to-woman and woman-to-man. Never man-to-man, this is not very respectful.
Among male friends they used to give a hand or sometimes they hug each other.
4.
Business Meetings
For
business meetings usually we can be delayed 5 minutes but it is better to be on
time. You can introduce yourself and at the end the meeting you can give your
business card to contact you. Depending on the type of meeting sometimes they
offer you coffer or something to drink. The business meetings usually are in the
afternoon after 2:00 PM because in Santa Cruz the office hours are from 8:00AM
to 12:00PM and from 2:00PM to 5:00PM because people go back to their homes to
eat lunch and take a nap.
5.
Contract
The
contract can be flexible but it depends of the amount if the transaction and
also between the relations that both companies have.
6.
Business Dinner
The
business dinner is not very formal but depends on the relationship that you have
with the other person. You can talk about your family we usually try to be
friendlier so the meeting will be more informal. Another important thing to
mention is that usually in Santa Cruz a business dinner you will eat meat and we
use fork and knife. Seafood isn’t very common in Santa Cruz.
7.
Gender
Nowadays
in Bolivia there isn’t discrimination for women on business but still there
are more men in the most important position of the company. Nevertheless the
treatment for businesswomen and men are the some.
8.
Communication
Because
of the culture the way of communication between the people on the daily life and
business is direct and explicit. The people express what they feel or think on
the moment.
9. Human Relation
In
Santa Cruz the human relation between employees is sociable there isn’t
restriction between professional and private life.