Looking to expand your business in Tajikistan or looking for collaboration with one of its companies? As long as you follow Tajikistan’s business etiquette, you may actually manage to make that happen. Whenever you are interested in dealing with a foreign country, you need to make an effort to learn about their culture and tradition. After all, you are going to be a guest wherever you may go, and since you receive all the respect you deserve, you must reciprocate it. That is one of the secrets of a successful business relationship with a foreign company.
Tajikistan is no different. There are some rules that you must keep in mind while you are there dealing with its officials. You do not want to insult anyone by doing something that is considerate inappropriate, albeit perfectly normal for the culture you are from. With that in mind, below you will read about some of the most common practices in Tajikistan’s business etiquette.
Scheduling a meeting with a Tajik company is not difficult, although you may have to be a little bit patient. You may not get a reply as fast as you would expect, but not for illegitimate reasons. The leader of the company may be out on business or even on a business trip. However, when you get a reply, the answer is almost certainly a positive one. Getting to Tajikistan, on the other hand, may prove to be difficult, depending on where you are flying from. However, it is a sure thing that you will end up in Istanbul. Almost all flight that goes to Tajikistan connects through Turkey.
Once you get to Tajikistan, if you need to deal with companies outside the capital city of Dushanbe, you need to hire a car to get around. It is the best option for business delegations. You must also hire an interpreter because the people of Tajikistan, even the ones in business, do not speak English. Not very well, at least. The people in Tajikistan speak either Russian or Tajik, and while you are not required to learn any of them because they are too challenging for most people, you should learn a few common greeting like thank you, please, and so on. You will make a very good impression on the Tajik delegation, and they will be more open to trusting you.
The business relationships in Tajikistan are based on trust. You need to prove yourself to be trusted. There are not many ways you can do that, but one good way to start is to always keep your word. You must also be punctual and show that you are committed to the business arrangement you want to make. A firm handshake will help the delegation decide what kind of person you are. You need to be decisive. Basically, your attitude and way of interacting with the Tajik officials will say a lot about you.
Business cards must be exchanged during the first meeting. If you want to make a good impression, you should print new business cards that include a version in Russian or Tajik. It depends on which region you choose to do business in. Some use Russian as a primary language, while others use Tajik. Make sure that you know which one uses which so that you do not make a huge mistake. When you get business cards from the foreign delegation, make sure that you take a look at them before you put them in your pocket. You need to show your interest.
As far as attire goes, you need to dress conservatively. A suit and tie will do, and since the climate is temperate, you should be comfortable even with a jacket on you. Women must adopt a business style as well, but it needs to be decent. If you are a woman, you need to make sure that your dress or skirt covers your shoulders and knees. Also, less cleavage is better. Not to mention that if your clothes are too tight, you may be considered indecent. Take a look in the mirror before you go to the meeting to check if you meet all the requirements.
It is very common in Tajikistan to be invited for a cup of tea. However, you should not expect tea at all. The Tajik people may refer to the invitation as ‘cup of tea,’ but in reality, you will get vodka or cognac. There is not much drinking involved, but a refusal may be construed as an insult. For some reason, the Tajik business people consider sharing a drink a sign of trustworthiness. If you do not drink per usual, and you do not want to consume too much alcohol with them, just do not empty your glass. It is a polite way of saying that you cannot drink anymore. Not for the moment, at least.
Before you leave for Tajikistan, make sure that you do some reading about the country’s history and culture. The topic may come up, and you may be asked what you think about your stay there. The more information you know, the more impressed the Tajik delegation will be. If you can, you could act fascinated by the country’s history. The Tajik are a proud people, and they like to see that foreigners take an interest in their culture and traditions. If you could learn short but popular poetry in Tajik, you will throw them all on their backs. Even a verse is enough. They like to recite poetry and if you can recite one, it is an incredible sign of dedication.
The Tajik ways are not hard to understand. Even so, proper research is required so that your business trip is successful. That is not challenging to achieve, especially since you have access to so much information. Tajikistan is a beautiful country, and you have a lot of opportunities there. All you must do is prove to the Tajik people is that you are worth engaging in business with.
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