All eyes are on Brazil the next couple of weeks. Many hope to enjoy good sports and great Brazilian party’s!

As an entry ticket the good natured people, samba and drums are no doubt very appealing, but what does it take to secure a successful stay in Brazil?

For short-term visitors as well as those who aim to develop longer-term business relations with Brazilians here are some tips that you would like to take into account in taking the first steps:

  1. Present all documentation in Portuguese and English
  2. Brazilians have a very diverse cultural background; check your business partner’s.
  3. Time is stretchable; be very patient. Try to make appointments between 10 and 12 am so that your business runs into lunch; a good meal is key to building a relationship
  4. Hire an appropriate Brazilian contact to arrange meeting the right people (‘despechante’)
  5. Don’t change the project team members during the negotiations; that may undermine the entire contract
  6. Be flexible during the talks; all aspects of the deal may come up at any time
  7. Present yourself as a valuable business partner with regard to hotel and dress code
  8. Greetings can be effusive; Brazilians may keep physical contact during communications
  9. The ‘okay’ gesture (a circle of first finger and thumb) is totally unacceptable and considered vulgar in Brazil.
  10. Gifts are not required at the first meeting; lunch or dinner is more appropriate. When invited to the family home, don’t forget the children.

Brazil is seen as a country of huge potential. Will it finally live up to its expectations? We’ll see about that.               But  newcomers who want to play better first learn how to dance!

samba