Colombia Business Etiquette

Dress code

• Dress conservatively with class.
• Wool sweaters or jackets are necessary in Bogota and sometimes in Medellin.
• Men should wear dark-colored suits, conservative ties, and dress shoes. 
• For women, a suit or dress is appropriate for business, while a cocktail dress is a requirement for most social occasions.
• Wear good quality shoes that are kept well preserved and polished. Make sure your shoes are in style.

Conversation

• Learn about Colombian history and culture before your visit.
• It is considered polite to maintain close eye contact during conversations.

Meetings

• Meetings should be scheduled at least two or three weeks in advance. Give yourself two or three hours between each meeting
• Arrive in Colombia a day early so that you can adjust to the high altitude. This is especially true in the capital, Bogotá, which is 8,600 feet [2,600] meters above sea level.
• Visitors to Colombia are expected to be punctual for all business appointments
• Business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Negotiating

• Ensure that you bring a supply of business cards, printed in Spanish on the opposite side
• When presenting your business card, pass it to the recipient with the Spanish side facing up.
• Changing your representatives in the middle of negotiations will not be well received and the replacement will have to start over again to rebuild good will.
• Ensure that you have all documents and presentation materials translated into Spanish before your trip to Colombia.
• When dealing with the government, you will need to use Spanish or have an interpreter. Many businesspeople, however, do speak English.
• When the meeting is over, stay a little bit longer and continue chatting with your colleagues. It's actually considered an insult in this culture to leave immediately after a meeting.
• As a follow-up to your meeting, it is a good idea to send a brief thank-you note, as well as minutes, that is, a written confirmation of what was discussed.

Gifts

• When invited to a home for a meal, you can bring flowers, pastries or chocolates, nuts or fruits.
• Lilies and marigolds are exclusively for funerals.
• If you know that you will meet a business associate's family, it is a thoughtful gesture to bring a gift for the children. Games and candy made in the U.S. will be especially appreciated. Ensure that your gift selections are not already easily available in Colombia
• Wrapped gifts are opened in private. To maintain the appearance of modesty, your gift may not be mentioned again
• Fine pens and other office accessories
• Engraved quality items
• Gifts native to your home region
• Fine wines, alcohol such as scotch, vodka, and gin
• Perfume
• Gifts to avoid include foreign beer--Colombia already brews fine local beers,jewellery,  clothing, ties or  body lotion

Business Entertainment

• Lunch is considered the most important meal of the day and is frequently eaten with family. Colombians take a lunch break anywhere between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
• On social occasions, guests are expected to arrive 15 to 30 minutes late for a party
• Dinner is usually eaten between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., although a dinner party will begin and end later. Guests will not arrive until at least 8:00 p.m. and people will sit down to dinner any time from 10:00 p.m. to midnight.
• Business entertaining is usually done over lunch and dinner.
• There is a great emphasis on proper table manners
• The "continental" style of dining is a must.
• Before taking a seat, wait to be told where to sit. As a general rule, let the host take the lead. Moreover, begin eating only when everyone is served and the host has proceeded with the meal.
• Allow the host to be the first to make the toast; then you might wish to make one.
• Before helping yourself to food, offer it to others in the company first.
• Make an effort to try everything that you are offered. If you come across something that you find unappealing, take a sample bite for the sake of politeness.
• It is considered polite to leave some food on your plate to show that you have been satisfied by the hospitality
• Place the utensils across your plate to signal that you are finished eating.
• Before smoking, ask for permission from those around you.
• There are two methods for summoning a waiter's attention that should be avoided by visitors: raising the hands over the head and clapping or using a hissing sound

Public conduct

• Ensure that you take safety precautions when in Colombia. Ask your counterparts what areas of the city are dangerous.
• The standard greeting is the handshake upon introduction and departure
• Among close friends, women may clasp forearms or kiss each other on one cheek.
• Men embrace and slap each other's back. This particular hug is known as the "abrazo."
• Colombians generally converse in closer proximity than North Americans.
• It is considered polite to maintain close eye contact during conversations

Tipping:

• In small restaurants, some people tip 1000 pesos or less (about $ .50 US);
• A few tip 2000 pesos (about $1 US).
• In the finer restaurants about 10%.
• High class restaurants add 15% onto the bill as service charge/tip (propina) - you must read your check/bill or you may end up doubling the tip.

Content by www.MercaTrade.com

More resources about Colombia is available on MercaTrade.com

>>Search for business opportunities in Colombia, click here B2B Portal

>>Learn about Information about Colombia, click here Information Colombia

>>Get the list of embassies and consulates in Colombia, click here Embassy Colombia

>>Find the latest Trade Agreements with Colombia, click here Trade Agreement Colombia

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