Whether you are visiting India to get to know your service providers face to face or setting up an offshore branch or just visiting the country to evaluate the business climate, you need to be aware of certain things.
We have compiled a list of 12 things from a business perspective - to ease your mind about India, to help you to get accustomed to diversity and various cross-cultural surprises awaiting you in India.
India is a mix of two worlds
The world perceives India as the technology back office and the next great consumer market of the world. But then, the world also perceives India as the big consumer market saturated with opportunities. The numbers are beginning to favor India along with those investing and working in India. Besides, Indians have a strong and deep routed faith in spiritualism and sanctity of religious beliefs.
India's 3 Colonial legacies - English, Democracy, and Freedom of Press
It's no secret and certainly not a wonder that the English-speaking population in India today exceeds the number of people speaking English in Britain. So, you don't have to worry about language barriers when in India. Even common people in urban India speak average English and can certainly understand what you will be saying and respond accordingly.
Along with the English, Indian democracy and freedom of press are the most appealing features of the country. These 3 combined give India a competitive advantage over other countries and will ensure you have a safe and profitable trip to India as compared to other countries like China, Malaysia etc
Packing - Most Important Tip before you leave from Your Country
In an Indian business setting, men normally wear lightweight suits with or without ties. If the day is extraordinarily hot, you can dispense with the suit jacket.
For women, pack lightweight pant suits with sandals. No short skirts please. Keep in mind that the air conditioning can be pretty cold so bring a shawl or a jacket.
For informal/casual gatherings during summer carry light cotton clothes with you.
Keep Buffer time
Do what you can to rest up before business begins. Get to the hotel, sleep, take a shower, have a quiet breakfast or lunch and spend some time adjusting. In other words, don't think you'll arrive and get right to work. In most probability, it's not the new India but the old India that you will meet, the moment you leave the airport -- crowds, the intensity of everything on the street, the sheer intensity of the culture. If people press in on you, just relax. There's lots going on and everything is just different -- the temperature, the feel of the air. Just Relax. True hospitality is on your way. Also, do not take transportation from unauthorized sources, always avail pre-paid cabs and buy travel tickets from govt. authorized booths.
Expect True Hospitality
It is likely that when you arrive at the airport, you'll actually be picked up by the person you are supposed to meet and taken to your hotel. Much will be done to make sure that you are comfortable, a lot more hospitality and welcoming events than you are accustomed to. Accept it graciously and don't consider it a waste of time or an imposition on your personal space. Indians love to play hosts and take care of their guests.
Guidelines to exchange currencies to Indian Rupees
All international Hotels have a 24 hours money changing facility. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers' cheque a visitor may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival. This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency on departure. Cash, bank notes and travelers' cheque up to US$2,500 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of travelers' cheque, drafts, bills, cheque, etc. which tourists wish to convent into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorized money changers.
Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorized money changers is an offence.
Urban India - Your Playground
If your trip is only business oriented then it's obvious that you will be spending most of the time in the Urban India. Urban India is a classic example of Tip#1 - a mix of both worlds.
If you are concerned about the computer literacy or the telecommunications hardware capabilities of the people you'll be working with in future, let us ease your mind. Computer sales in India reached 1.01 million units during the April-June first quarter, rising 8.6 per cent year on year - an indication of the rising computer literacy among the populace.
Also, the number of telecom subscribers (fixed and mobile) in the country touched 120 million in November 2005 with more than 3.5 million additions in mobiles alone. This indicates urban India's rigorous enthusiasm of to increase connectivity with the global village.
Getting a local mobile phone number for communication
Getting a cell phone number in India is very easy and cost-effective. Market streets are lined up with cell phone shops; just walk into any of the shop, choose the carrier you prefer, submit the registration form and it's done! Registration requires you to show proof of identity, so make sure you carry copies of your passport and a couple of passport size photographs for the registration.
Note: it is advisable to take an Indian citizen along with you to make the process simpler for yourself.
The Right Hand Rule
It is the Indian tradition to give and take anything important using the right hand. This tradition is firmly rooted in the minds of Indians and is usually followed by all.
Business cards, documents, or anything related to business must be transacted with your right hand. This, however, does not mean you'll have to use you're right hand for writing if you're a naturally left-handed person.
While driving also, Indians follow the right hand rule.
Use Last Names until Told Otherwise
If you're meeting people for the first time use the honorific and their last name. Learn how to pronounce the names and find out whether somebody is a Mr., Miss or Mrs.
Of course, names can be lengthy and look deceptively hard to say. In India, you meet somebody, just ask: "Would you please help me to pronounce your name right?" The person won't mind and will be happy to help you out. Then practice it a couple of times after you've been told. It's important it get it right - you won't be corrected if you get it wrong; and if you get it right, it helps on the relationship-building.
Winter: December to February is the wintertime in almost all of India. At this time of the year, days are cold with average temperature of10-15 degree Celsius, but it can drop down to below zero degree Celsius in some higher ranges of northern India. Normally winters are dry in northern India. In Southern part, the temperature difference is not so marked due to moderating effect of Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
Summer: March, April, May and June are the summer months in India. The average temperature is around 32 degree Celsius but in north-western region the maximum temperature can be far above the average.
Advancing Monsoon: Months of June, July, August and September form the core of Advancing Monsoon in almost all parts of country. The monsoon approaches with moisture laden winds; this sudden approach is marked with violent thunderstorms and lightening, known as 'break' of the monsoon.
Food India is a land of culinary delight. The food tends to be generally spicy but laden with all ingredients. But, while placing an order you can always request for non-spicy preparation. Indians love to dine out and usually restaurants/hotels offer multi-cuisine options like Indian, Mughlai, Indian version of Chinese, Italian, Fast Food. There are very fine dining restaurants in most of the International hotels and in most parts of metro cities. One should avoid street food from vendors. Mostly Indians prefer vegetarian food but lot of urban Indians have preference for Non-vegetarian food these days. Beef is not available easily in Northern region; it is available only at some places in South India. Liquor and other beverages are easily available and served at most of the restaurants. Metro cities now boast of good cafés and lounge bars.