Ola Relationship

ARGENTINA
Location: South America, borders with Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km Capital: Buenos Aires 

Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest 

Population: 39,144,753 (July 2004 est.) 

Ethnic Make-up: white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other non white groups 3% Government: Republic 

Language in Argentina

Although Argentina's official language is Spanish, Argentinian Spanish is different from the Spanish spoken in Spain. In some ways it sounds more like Italian than Spanish. There are also many other languages spoken in Argentina, including Italian, German, English and French. Indigenous languages that are spoken today include Tehuelche, Guarani and Quechua. Argentinean Society & Culture

Europeans or Latin Americans?  

°Most Argentines are primarily of European descent, which separates them from other Latin American countries where European and Indian cultures are more mixed.
°Culturally and emotionally, Argentines often seem more European than Latin American. 

Argentinean Family Values 

°The family is the centre of Argentine lifewith extended families still having prominence. °The heads of powerful families command widespread respect, but with this comes a responsibility to care for others in terms of security, jobs, etc and to maintain personal and family honour.
°Honour is in all respects the be all and end all and it routinely affects day-to-day life at home, in the community and in business. 

Religion inArgentina 

°The Argentine constitution guarantees religious freedom.
°Roman Catholicism acts as the official state religion.
°Other world religions, notably Islam, are gaining a foothold within the country during the last ten to fifteen years. 

Expressive Communication Style

°Argentines are on the whole open, blunt, and direct, yet are able to remain tactful and diplomatic.°Argentines are a warm peoples and their unreservedness brings to the fore their passion and sentimentality.
°In addition they are close communicators physically so will often touch each other when speaking and maintain little physical distance between speakers. 
Relationships & Communication
* Argentina is a relationship-driven culture, so it is important to build networks and use them.
*Argentines maintain and use an intricate network of family and friends to call upon for help, favours or assistance.
* If a favour is done for you, you will eventually be called upon to re-pay it.
* Name-dropping and nepotism do not have the negative connotations as it has in the West and can be used to your advantage.
* Above all Argentines like to do business with people they know andtrust.
* They prefer face-to-face meetings rather than by telephone or in writing, which are seen as impersonal.
* Once a relationship has developed, their loyalty will be to you rather than to the company you represent.
* Looking good in the eyes of others is important to Argentines. Therefore, they will judge you not only on what you say, but also on the way you present yourself.
*Avoid confrontation. Argentines do not like publicly admitting they are incorrect.
* It is imperative to show deference and respect to those in positions of authority. When dealing with people at the same level, communication can be more informal.
* Be alert for nuances and hidden meanings. It is a good idea to repeat details, as you understand them to confirm that you and your businesscolleagues are in agreement.

Business Meeting Etiquette
* Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, preferably by e-mail or telephone.
* Avoid January and February, which are their vacation times; the middle weeks of July, which is when many go skiing; and during the two weeks before and after Christmas.
* You should arrive on time for meetings,...