Panama Business Etiquette
Panama's economy is successful in large part because of tourism, but banking drives the financial health of the country. Panamanian businesspeople are accustomed to interacting with professionals from other countries regularly--being aware of etiquette rules while in Panama can make a great first impression.
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Business Attire
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Conservative business suits are best for men and women. It is acceptable for women to wear pants in the workplace when doing business in Panama. It is common for some professional men who are not executives to wear camisillas, which are lightweight shirts that are not tucked into slacks. Women should avoid wearing extremely revealing or form-fitting clothing to the office.
Business Cards and Professional Titles
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There is no preferred method for handing out business cards in Panama; however, it is best for everyone in the room to receive a card, not just the senior executives. Proper etiquette also suggests that one side of the business card be translated into Spanish, with the Spanish side facing the recipient. Panamanian professionals prefer to be referred to as "Don" (for men) and "Dona" (for women) in a business setting. Individuals who have received their college degrees should be addressed as "Licensiado/a." It is appropriate to use these titles when giving business cards to Panamanian colleagues.
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Punctuality and Business Meetings
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International professionals should arrive at Panamanian business meetings on time, even though they may be kept waiting. Professionals in Panama customarily engage in a few minutes of small talk before starting the meeting; displaying an agreeable and friendly attitude during this portion of the meeting will make a great impression. It is appropriate to discuss topics like family and sports--religion and politics should be avoided.
Business Dining
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Panamanian businesspeople often treat their international colleagues to a business dinner in order to celebrate the closing of a deal. In these instances, proper etiquette dictates that the host of the dinner sits at one end of the table, while the guest of honor is seated at the other end. Women who are attending business dinners should be sure to bring their spouses, especially if the businesswomen are from another country.
Giving Gifts
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It is not customary for businesspeople in Panama to give or receive gifts when doing business. However, in some cases, it may be acceptable to present Panamanian colleagues with a small gift that displays the international colleague's company logo. Showing consideration and displaying appropriate professional manners will often be noticed more than a gift.
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References
- Photo Credit panama image by NL shop from Fotolia.com
