Thursday, April 26, 2012

Business Culture


Etiquette

  • Let the man you are meeting with initiate the greeting
  • If someone holds your hand, it is a sign of friendship
  • Do not use your left hand for anything, unless picking up something dirty
  • Do not point, cross your legs, or show the bottom of your feet
  • Alcohol and pork and strictly avoided
  • Do not inquire about a man's wife, mother, or any other female
  • No business is conducted on Friday, and often not on Thursday
  • Most of your body should be covered
  • You will not get instant results
  • Business cards should be English on one side, Arabic on the other
  • Both the Western and Arabic date should be on all business documents

Labeling 

  • Retail goods (in Arabic)
    • Country of origin
    • Producers name
    • Product Description
  • Poultry & Meat
    • Shipping should be direct (country of origin --> Egypt)
    • Sealed package
    • Product details in Arabic both inside and on the packaging
    • "Halal"
  • Other Food products
    • Sanitary and odorless packaging
    • Production & expiration date clearly visible
    • Name & Address of manufacturer
    • Brand or Trademark
    • Name & Address of importer
    • Ingredients
    • How to store
    • Net weight
    • Gross weight
    • Number of packages per case or carton
    • Percentage of Preservatives

  • Weight and Measures
    • using Metric System
    • clearly displayed
  • Dates
    • Can be in English
    • Words Production and Expiry must be in Arabic
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