Buenos Aires, Argentina Hotels and City Guide

Buenos Aires - Business Tips

Buenos Aires Local ecnomy

Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial, commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina. The country’s chief port is one of the busiest in South America, and the Río de la Plata connects the port to northeast Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. It therefore serves as the distribution hub for a vast area of the southeastern section of South America. As Argentina depends heavily on the production and export of agricultural commodities, the port plays a major part in the economy. Many multi-national companies have set up their headquarters in Puerto Madero where they have built impressive skyscrapers.

Buenos Aires has a varied economy; the services sector is diversified and well developed. Advertising, manufacturing and shipping play prominent roles in the city’s economy.

To the west of Buenos Aires is the Pampa Húmeda, the most productive agricultural region of Argentina producing wheat, soybeans and corn (as opposed to the dry southern Pampa mostly used for cattle farming and more recently the production of wine).

Meat, dairy, grain, tobacco, wool and leather products are processed or manufactured in the Buenos Aires metro area. Brazil is Argentina’s main trading partner.

Other leading industries are automobile manufacturing, oil refining, metalworking, machine building and the production of textiles, chemicals, clothing and beverages, not forgetting tourism.

With the world coming out of a recession and rains ending a prolonged drought in Argentina, the recovery in agricultural output is expected to rise from 61 million tonnes in 2009 to 83 million tonnes in 2010.

Buenos Aires Business Etiquette

Buenos Aires Dress Code
Business people are expected to dress smartly, suits being standard. Men should wear dark suits with ties. Women should wear either dark business suits, dresses or skirts with a white blouses. Both sexes should have good quality accessories. Argentinians tend to get dressed up when going out to restaurants. Also, many of the more expensive establishments have dress codes.

Greeting Someone in Buenos Aires
The handshake is very much the custom in Argentina, and you should expect to shake hands whenever you meet someone. Business cards are commonly presented when meeting people. When handing out cards, ensure the Spanish side faces the recipient. Have printed material in Spanish and English, including any notes.

Titles are very important especially among the elderly. A Ph.D or a physician is called Doctor, teachers are Professor, engineers Ingeniero, architects Arquitecto and lawyers Abogado. Those without professional titles are Senor (Mr), Senora (Mrs) or Senorita (Miss).

Buenos Aires Business Hours and Banking
Normal business hours are 09:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday, and a siesta doesn't usually feature in Buenos Aires' working day. In general, conducting business is similar to any large European city, with business deals often negotiated over lunch. Punctuality is important although you might be kept waiting by your Argentine associates.

Buenos Aires Smoking
In Buenos Aires, smoking is restricted in sports arenas, theatres and near food-processing areas. Smoking is also prohibited on public transport including buses, taxis and subways.

Buenos Aires General Meeting Etiquette

Business Meetings
Small talk often takes place before a formal meeting. (Do not mention the Perón years, religion or the Falklands War!). Safe topics are soccer, history, culture, home and children. Argentines are tough negotiators and contracts are long and detailed.

Several meetings will take place to discuss and exchange ideas, not to make decisions. It’s a slow process because business is bureaucratic. Be patient. Decisions are made at the top so try to meet with high-level executives. Guests at a meeting are greeted and escorted to their chairs with the visiting senior executive being placed opposite his Argentine counterpart.

Business Dinners
Business dinners are popular and usually held in a restaurant. Keep your hands on the table but never your elbows! If entertained in an Argentine home, a bottle of Scotch or French champagne is appreciated by the host as there are high taxes on imported liquor. Arrive anything up to 45 minutes later than invited as arriving on time is not general practice. Always wait until the host is seated before sitting down and do not begin eating until your hostess invites you to. Leave a little food on your plate and place your knife and fork across the plate, prongs facing down, handles facing to the right, to indicate you have finished eating.

Avoid pouring wine as it is a ritual too complex for a foreigner, and wait for a toast to be made before sipping your drink. Telephone your hosts the next day to thank them for their hospitality and send flowers, (favourites are Birds-of-Paradise) to the hostess.

Hotels in Buenos Aires, Argentina