Malta – Don’t Let the Size Fool You

Business Culture

Irene KimmelI arrived in Malta at the end of 2010 from the US with the intention of exploring opportunities as a marketing professional as well as to start a new adventure living in another country. I immediately found the Maltese to be extremely friendly and rarely encountered any language barriers due to the fact that almost 90% of the population speaks English.

I think it is always wise to research and absorb as much information as possible when venturing into new and unexplored territory and being respectful and culturally aware is key in both business as well as life in general. I commend the team here at Passport to Trade 2.0 on presenting everyone with information that raises both awareness and promotes respect.

Importance of trust in Malta

As with many countries, especially in the EU, the way of doing business locally, as well as globally is continually evolving and the goals of the Passport to Trade 2.0 project to provide a platform of European business culture resources is a valuable tool whether researching a continued educational path, expanding career choices or growing your business. As indicated in the Business Relationship section of the Malta guide, you must first develop and earn their trust and invest time and a sincere desire to get to know the people and their business in order to seriously be considered in a formal partnership or business relationship.

 “Business relations are based on trust: Maltese people must feel that they know you well before establishing a partnership.”

If you are considering visiting Malta to explore opportunities there are several business networking organizations that I would recommend that are recognized globally such as BNI (Business Networking International) and Toastmasters International. Invitations to attend meetings are fairly easily obtained, visitors are always welcome and are great resources to connect in person to many of the business leaders in the community. The number of groups and communities on networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Internations.org and Meetup.org just to name a few for Malta professionals, industry specific or niche markets, and students is continually growing and not only provides additional opportunities to expand your network but also offers social activities to make new friends and ensure balance in work, family and play which is important here in Malta.

The X-Factor

There are several thriving expat communities here in Malta that can provide resources and overall support. In additional to expat groups for all foreign nationals It is not uncommon to find country specific groups (Germans, Spanish, Dutch, etc.) that can ease the transition of living and working in a new country by providing referrals, tips, and information that may be more relevant to you. Whether it is missing a type of food or drink from your homeland or just speaking in your native tongue chances are you are not alone in Malta.

I want to extend my appreciation and congratulations to the Passport to Trade 2.0 project and businessculture.org for providing access to these cultural guides and for promoting the possibilities and exciting opportunities that are emerging in Malta and other European markets.

by Irene Kimmel

Managing Director, Archetype Marketing Ltd; My Online Presence: Xeeme.com/IreneKimmel

Dutch: Meticulously detailed but flexible

Business Culture

Balia-StougiantzikiI am a studying journalism in my fourth year of my degree at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. I spent six months in the Hague, the Netherlands last year as an Erasmus student from Greece at the Hague University of Applied Sciences.

I wish I was given the opportunity to have the information provided from the Passport to Trade 2.0 website www.businessculture.org before my stay there last September!

As there are cultural differences between the Dutch and the Greeks, I had to discover these differences by myself. Sometimes this was a bit awkward. It is great to see so much information in one place for 31 European countries.

The Dutch have a special way of organizing their life. In reading through the text, I found this quote in the “Business Relationships” section, which I consider so true. The quote is from the words of William Z Shetter of the University of California-Berkeley in his book The Netherlands in Perspective:

“The Dutch occupy one of the world’s most densely populated countries, and they structure life in it by means of a seemingly irrevocable commitment to a meticulously detailed but at the same time flexible system of interlocking organization”.

I am thinking, after graduating, of applying for a Masters program in the UK. You can be sure that I will consult the www.businessculture.org website before going for my postgraduate studies. I was looking through the UK section and it gives so much useful information. I especially like the sections on internship and placements, business communication and business etiquette. Congratulations to the team!!!

Balia Stougiantziki

Student, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Journalism

Greek business guide can open doors in Greece

Business Culture, Student placements

Dimitra-KoukouseliI want to congratulate the Passport to Trade 2.0 project team for giving me the chance to have such valuable information for my stay in Portugal. It couldn’t have come at a better time because I will be going there as an Erasmus student next semester at the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém. As a country in the Southern region, I found that the Portuguese have many similarities with the Greeks and I was very happy about that. When reading the sections on punctuality, business communication, business meals, I thought I was reading the Greek guide. I am really looking forward to spending time in Portugal and the Passport to Trade website will be my guide.

As a student studying business administration at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, I think the website www.businessculture.org is an essential tool for everyone who would like to do business in these countries. I liked the videos as well because they give a quick snapshot of the country.

I was happy to see that social media is being used in companies and is expanding in many countries as part of their communication strategy. The website gives small and medium sized companies the opportunity to expand their business relationships with other European countries.

There are some very helpful cultural hints in the Greek business guide that can surely open doors for doing business in Greece. Greek people are friendly and welcome foreigners but, it would be great to also know what to avoid and how you can make your communication easier. I found it not only informing but fun to read as well.

by Dimitra Koukouseli

Student, University of Macedonia Thessaloniki. Department of Business Administration

Personal relationships have priority in Portugal

Student placements

Antonio-BrunoI am Antonio Bruno and I am a student of Tourism Sciences at University of Calabria in Rende (CS) – Italy.

I have just come back home from Portugal where I have had a work placement.

Before leaving on my work placement, I have only had limited knowledge and expectations about the country and people I would meet.

Reading the guide of Portugal developed by the Passport to Trade project, I found interesting and useful information about the country in general, but, in particular, about the cultural context and the business attitudes and etiquette.

I worked as a receptionist in an hotel in Lisbon and I had the opportunity to meet many people from different places.

The knowledge of business culture and business communication, which I gained from P2T2.0, has helped me to develop good relationships both with my colleagues and clients.

Personal relationships have priority in Portugal

As regards to the work experience I had, I can confirm that Portuguese are friendly and warm but they are also formal, precise and clear.

Trust is very important, so Portuguese people like to get to know you well and establish a personal relation, this allows long-term work collaborations.

Thanks to the advice received on Passport to Trade 2.0 website on student placement resources in Portugal, I have also had fewer difficulties in finding accommodation and in managing other practical issues. My work placement experience has been more relaxed and successful.

Good instrument for students, companies and every manager

Business Culture, Social media

trepuntoz3ro.itOur agency deals with communication and knows the complexity of interactions among different cultures. Sometimes just giving a simple business card can create misunderstanding.

For example, the Japanese view the business card as an extension of a person, while Americans view it as a business formality and a convenience. Consequently, while the Japanese handle business cards with great care, making certain to put them in a safe places, Americans are quick to put them away and thus often end up insulting the Japanese.

A good communication focuses not only on languages but also on many aspects often neglected. Gestures, objects, rituals, status symbol, interpersonal distances are a great part of the act of communication. People don’t exchange words but messages. This is the reason why an attentive analysis and knowledge of the intrinsic values of every interaction are of prime importance in order to avoid misunderstandings, especially in a working environment.

Communication through Social Media in Italy is not so different as in other European countries, in terms of netiquette. Thanks to Passport to Trade 2.0 project, we learnt that these tools are not well adopted by SMEs. In Italy and in the majority of Europe, companies understand the value of Social Media marketing to communicate with their clients, but they are not yet able to capitalise the potential in their business.

For us, the most interesting sections of P2T2 are those pertaining to business communication, business etiquette and business meeting etiquette.

The Passport to Trade 2.0 guides are a good instrument for students, companies and every manager who wants, as we do, to enter international market.

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