Page 43 - InvestmentGuideBrasilEng

PUBLIC

HOLIDAYS BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Brazil operates a very tactile business
culture, based on personal contact and
familiarity between investors and local
partners. In this respect, long-distance
communication can only take investors so LANGUAGE
far. At some point investors should plan
on visiting Brazil to meet with qualified The language spoken throughout Brazil is Portu-
contacts, government support services, guese. It is advisable to enquire in advance as to
National and matchmaking, visit facilities, etc. the language capabilities of your interlocutors
in Brazil. Do not assume your contacts in Bra-
other major zil will be able to speak a language other than
Portuguese. If in doubt, retain the services of a
professional translator during your visit. Despite
holidays in Brazil Other important being related, Portuguese and Spanish are quite
distinct languages and you will not necessarily be
intelligible to your Brazilian contacts if you speak

guese will be much appreciated by your Brazilian
? January 1: New Year’s Day holidays REQUESTS FOR A MEETING in Spanish. Any effort to speak even a little Portu-
? April 21: Tiradente’s Day (National Hero) There are a number of other holidays that, while When requesting a meeting, it is advisable to interlocutors. Any essential information that you
would like to pass on to your contacts – such as
optional, are regularly observed across Brazil. provide your contacts with information, includ- leave-behind documents, presentations or corpo-
? May 1: Labor Day ing the purpose of the meeting and what will rate brochures – should ideally be translated into
? Late February or early March: Carnival be discussed. The vast majority of medium and Portuguese.
? September 7: Independence Day (falls on the Monday and Tuesday large businesses are comfortable corresponding
(celebrates Brazil’s independence immediately preceding Ash Wednesday. the meeting. In both cases and for first contact, PUNCTUALITY
by email, but plan to make a phone call to secure
from Portugal in 1822) Many Brazilians take this time to use
annual leave and travel outside their it is advisable to communicate in Portuguese un- Be sure to leave plenty of time to avoid any delays
? October 12: Nossa Senhora home city. As a result, many businesses less you know your contact speaks another pre- that might prevent you from attending a meeting
Aparecida (Patron Saint of Brazil) may be closed around this time.) ferred language. Meetings can take place over a at a pre-determined time. Do not interpret tar-
formal lunch or dinner, which is common in Bra- diness on the part of your Brazilian contacts as a
? November 2: All Souls’ Day ? Late March or April: Good Friday zil, but for a first meeting it is preferable to meet sign of disinterest or bad manners. On the other
your contacts on their premises, unless they sug- hand, Brazil meetings can sometimes extend be-
? November 15: Republic Day (celebrates the ? May or June: Corpus Christi gest otherwise. yond their allotted time, which can have a knock-
proclamation of Brazil as a republic in 1889) on effect for the rest of the day’s schedule
? December 24: Christmas Eve TIME OF THE YEAR
? December 25: Christmas Day Brazilians tend to travel during major holiday peri- GREETINGS
? December 31: New Year’s Eve
Days on which general elections are held (pres- ods, which in Brazil are Christmas/New Year, Eas- It is common to shake hands with both women
idential and state governmental elections) are State governments and a number of municipali- ter and Carnival, which takes place in either late and men upon first meeting. International busi-
also national holidays. The next general election ties decree a small number of holidays which are February or early March. During this time many ness attire is the normal dress code throughout
will take place on October 5, 2014. If necessary, only observed in their area of jurisdiction. businesses and public services (including govern- Brazil in business meetings. Exchanging business
runoff votes will be held on October 26, 2014. ment departments) will be closed. cards is standard practice.
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