When we are dealing with people in other countries, it is important to take note of little vital information pertaining to their culture, language and business ethics. It is embarrassing when you make a phone call on your working day to an overseas client or potential customer who is having work holiday. Yep! And this can be very serious matter if you are dealing with a very important client. As it has occurred to my network of business friends overseas, so I thought it might be useful to write about this here.

Asians are known to celebrate different forms of religion and legendary events. In one religion, there can be many sects. In one race, there can be many ethnic groups of people who speak many dialects. In one language, there can be many accents of the spoken form and many rules of the written form (e.g. simplified or traditional Chinese, Malay in Romanised alphabets or in Jawi.) It is so mind boggling if you try to understand why and how come people come to celebrate certain days for seemingly no apparent reason.

Yet, you cannot expect people to follow your ways of doing things in your world. Do what the Roman’s do, as they say. Imagine calling on your Muslim Malay friend during the fasting month. You are not a Muslim so you don’t practise the fast. But your friend does. How would you organise your day around his schedule? Would you insist on having a conference call at the time when he is supposed to break his fast. Do you know of the fasting hours and how long it is supposed to last?

Imagine calling on your Chinese friend who is a Buddhist? Where would you arrange to have dinner with him? Would you mind having only vegetarian meals? Do you know anything about Buddhism or how Buddhism is practiced by a Chinese person? 

The essence of Asian business success lies in them upholding their strong beliefs in religion, culture and tradition. Money is made because people celebrate religious, cultural and traditional events. Does your Asian friend or business friend practise a religion? Knowing the religious practices help you better prepared for topics to be discussed. You cannot hope to achieve much on a fasting month when all Muslims are fasting. For instance, in Indonesia, all businesses are closed for at least one week before and after the end of the fasting month. 

Be informed and keep updated of designated national, public and school holidays of the country of your potential client. If you can’t find this information on the internet, simply request from your client or customer in order to help them better. Or ask your company’s representative to send you a copy of this information. Impress your Asian customer with your knowledge of important dates in his religion, culture and country. 

The Wikipedia gives quite a huge list of holidays by country. Click here. You should also verify these dates directly with your Asian sources.