Doing business with Egyptians

Résumé du document

If you are eager to do business or to invest in a foreign company, you have to be aware of some things about how is the business environment in the country you choose and how is the reality. That information is mainly related to the economy, culture, legislative and political fronts. That means before going there you have to learn more about the habits in the country and about how handling business there.

We are going to talk about Egypt, because we think it is a very interesting country both because of its status of developing country and because of its culture which is different from what we are used to. The real question is how to do business and how to negotiate in Egypt?

First of all, we will learn more about Egypt with the ID of the country, then we will take a look closer at the business environment. After that, we will talk about what to do or not to do during a negotiation and we will end with a testimony of a businessman who negotiates with the Egyptian companies.

Extraits

[...] Write in arab and french, or in arab and english on your files and visiting cards. They like when you show them that you know some words in arab. On the spot Be on time, and patient. For them time is not money, and they expect you to have all the day for the meeting. The interview Very long preliminaries with social talks about the country, the history (Pharaons), the family etc . Never talk about islamism, Al-Quaida, Ben Laden, terrorism . [...]

[...] Everything has to be included in the contract, in particular the after- sales department. When the business is done and finished, you may keep in touch with your client and visit him even if you don't have any business to do (courtesy visits). Courtesies Shake the client hand and greet his wife. If you are invited at his house, don't bring flowers Don't compliment his wife directly Gifts: perfume, tie, art books . nothing for the wife. Don't take cigarettes from your pocket. [...]

[...] All those facts have to be taken in account if you are about to do business in Egypt. It will optimize your chance to win your contract. IV. Reality check My father who is sales and marketing director in an aeronotic company told me the following story: Some years ago, he was obliged to go to Cairo for an important negotiation during the Ramadan period. He was the only represantative of his company, what a big surprise when he saw six people to negotiate in the meeting room. [...]

[...] His main buyers are the USA, Italy, and Spain. And his main suppliers are the USA, Germany and China. France is in the top 5 investors in Egypt of its exchanges are done with the European Union. There is a big penetration of Egyptian economy in the Euro-Mediterranean space. That confirms the interest showed to this country. III. Negotiation with Egyptians When you are about to negotiate with someone who is coming from another country and culture, the first thing to do is to get informed about how things going on, to avoid misunderstanding. [...]

[...] He is the head of the government. II. Business environment To understand and to anticipate better the business environment in Egypt, we will do a SWOT matrix. First of all we will see the situation of Egypt, showing its strengths and weaknesses. And then, we will try to understand in what way it is a good thing or no to go to Egypt, with the opportunities and threats. Egypt's exports represent million dollars, and the imports represent million dollars. Egypt has already loyal trade partners. [...]