Spain is a parliamentary monarchy located in Southern Europe. Some key facts about Spain include:
- The capital is Madrid and the population is over 47 million people.
- The official language is Spanish but other languages like Catalan and Basque are also spoken regionally.
- The economy relies on exports like motor vehicles, foodstuffs, and machinery while imports include oil, machinery, and steel.
- Spanish culture places importance on relationships, hierarchy, and non-verbal communication. Punctuality, modest dress, and gift-giving etiquette should be observed.
- Indians working in Spain may face challenges from the differences in cultural diversity, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance compared to India. Building
¡Olé! Your Way Into The Spanish Business WorldDarren Jansen
With over 300 million native Spanish speakers, Spanish is the second most-spoken first language in the world. Doing business in Spain? It is important to understand the Spanish business culture.
2. FACT SHEET
• Full Country Name: Kingdom of Spain
• Surface Area: 504,784 squared km.
• Capital: Madrid
• Regions: Spain is divided into 17
autonomous communities.
• Languages: Castilian Spanish (official)
74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque
2%, are official regionally
3. • National holiday: National Day, 12
October (1492); year when Columbus first
set foot in the Americas
• Constitution: approved by legislature 31
October 1978; passed by referendum 6
December 1978, effective 29 December
1978
• Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
4. Population
• Population: 47,042,984(July 2011
estimate)
• Age Structure: 0-14 yrs: 15.1%
15-64 yrs: 67.7%
65 yrs and over:
17.1%
Population growth rate: 0.654% (2011 est)
5. • Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female
(2011 est.)
• Infant mortality rate
total: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.01 deaths/1,000 live births
(2011 est.)
6. LITERACY
• Definition: age 15 and over can read and
write.
• Total Population: 97.7%
• Male: 98.7%
• Female: 97.2%
• Education expenditure: 4.3% ofGDP
7. Major export and Import
• Export: Motor Vehicles, Foodstuff,
Medicines, Machinery and
Pharmaceuticals.
• Spain earn around $215.7 billion from its
exports.
• Imports: Oil, Electric and Mechanical
machinery and iron and steel.
• Spain’s import were valued at $293.2
billion in 2009.
8. MODIFIER
(Migrant Worker)
Guiding the invisible hands to adapt the
working climate in Spain ….
Kunal-Operation Manager
Amit- Finance Manager
Keshav-Marketing Manager
Anukriti-H.R manager
Apeeksha-Public relation officier
9. Appointment & Punctuality…
• Appointments for any business meeting
should always be taken in advance.
• Punctuality is expected from foreign
visitors.
• Spaniards sometimes arrive upto 30 mins
late for business meetings.
10. Negotiation
• Try to maintain friendly and personal
atomosphere during negotiation in spain
.
• Self dignity ,consideration and diplomacy
are key expectations
11. Culture and Etiquettes
Meeting Etiquette
. When introduced expect to shake
hands.
. Once a relationship is established,
men may embrace and pat each other
on the shoulder.
. Female friends kiss each other on
both cheeks, starting with the left.
12. . People are often referred to as Don
or Dona and their first name when in
formal occasion as a general rule.
. Many men use a two-handed shake
where the left hand is placed on the
right forearm of the other person.
13. • Dining Etiquette
. If invited to a Spaniard's home, you can
bring chocolates, pastries, or cakes;
wine, liqueur, or brandy; or flowers to the
hostess.
If you know your hosts have children, they
may be included in the evening, so a small
gift for them is always appreciated
14. Table manners
. Remain standing until invited to sit down.
. Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.
. Use utensils to eat most food. Even fruit is
eaten with a knife and fork.
. The host gives the first toast.
. It is acceptable for a woman to make a toast.
. Indicate you have finished eating by laying
your knife and fork parallel on your plate, tines
facing up, with the handles facing to the right.
15. Business Etiquette
• Working relationships
Emotion directed culture prevails.
The first meeting is generally formal
Solid business relationships and building
colleague rapport is a vital concept in Spain.
• Structure & Hierarchy
Hierarchy and positions are extremely
significant
Make sure all your printed material is
available in both English and Spanish.
Most Spaniards do not give their opinion at
meetings. Therefore, it is important to watch
their non-verbal communication.
16. • Dress Etiquette
. Business dress is stylish yet,
conservative.
. Dress as you would in the rest of
Europe.
. Elegant accessories are important
for both men and women.
17. • Business Cards
. Present your business card to the
receptionist upon arriving.
. Have one side of your card
translated into Spanish.
. Hand your card so the Spanish side
faces the recipient.
18. Gift Exchange
• If you are invited to a Spaniards
house, the Spanish gift giving custom is
to bring a host/hostess gift such as
chocolates, dessert items such as
pastries, or bottle of high quality wine.
• Flowers are only sent for special
celebrations, if gifting flowers they should
be given in odd numbers, except for
thirteen which is considered unlucky.
• When receiving a gift, you should open
it immediately and in front of the gift giver.
19. Problems Faced By Indians In
SPAIN.
• Cultural Diversity
• Individualism
• Relationship Building
• Uncertainty Avoidance