Doing Business in Singapore

Doing business in Singapore can be unsettling especially if this is the first time you're dealing with an Asian culture.

Here, we have compiled some tips to help you on your trip:

Singapore Commercial Information

The following organisations can offer advice:

Singapore Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry

#03-01 Chinese Chamber of Commerce Building
Address: 47 Hill Street, Singapore 179365
Tel: (+65) 6338 9761
Fax: (+65) 6339 5630
E-mail: sfcci@singnet.com.sg

Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

#10-01 John Hancock Tower
Address: 6 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048580
Tel: (+65) 6224 1255
Fax: (+65) 6224 2785
E-mail: general@sicc.com.sg
Website: www.asianconnect.com/sicc

Conferences/Conventions

Singapore is the top convention city in Asia and ranks among the top ten meetings destinations in the world.

There are many Singapore Serviced Apartments or Singapore Hotels with extensive conference facilities, including the latest audio-visual equipment, secretarial services, translation and simultaneous interpretation systems, whilst Raffles City, a brand new and completely self-contained convention city, can accommodate up to 6000 delegates under one roof

Full information on Singapore as a conference destination can be obtained from the Exhibition & Convention Bureau within the Singapore Tourism Board.

The Bureau is a non-profitmaking organisation with the dual objectives of marketing Singapore as an international exhibition and convention city and of assisting with the planning and staging of individual events.

Business Ettiquette in Singapore

1. Be courteous and professional at all times - take the time to learn Asian courtesy as Western courtesy may have a contrary meaning in Singapore!

2. Business friendships are based on honor, integrity and good character - take pains to establish and maintain contacts as Singaporeans highly regard warm and personal relationships.

3. When making introductions for the first time, and in formal meetings, always use the person's title and family or personal name. Since Singapore is a multi-racial society, it would help to bear in the mind the following:

The Chinese place their family names first, followed by the personal names. Women often keep their own family name.
The Malays do not use a family name. They use their own personal name followed by bin (son of) or binti (daughter of) before their father's personal name.
The Indians use their personal name followed by s/o (son of) or d/o (daughter of) and the father's personal name

The rule of thumb is never use personal names or nicknames unless invited to do so, or until a friendship has been established after a long time.

4. Don't be offended if a Singaporean doesn't look you in the eye in a meeting. The eyes are cast politely down or away as a sign of respect, especially if you are more senior or have a higher status.

5. Handshakes in Singapore are usually soft and light to the touch, unlike the bone-crushing one common to people from the West.

As Asians generally do not have a long history of handshaking because they have used other courteous forms for saluting: bowing, salaaming, saluting, shking their own clasped hands in front of them etc., they are not aware of the Western cultural significance and meaning behind a firm handshake.

6. The polite way to give and receive business cards is to formally hold it with both hands, look carefully at it one or two times, smile and show you have recognized and noted well who the other person is. This is a form of respect to the other person.

7. It is common to be greeted with "Have you eaten?" or "Where are you going?" instead of "Good morning/afternoon/evening" or "How are you?".

8. Good topics for small talk includes food, the scenery, arts, music, tourist attractions, mutual benefit and mutual friendship. Avoid subjects on religion, personal relationships, money, racisim, sex, politics and criticism of the bureaucracy.

9. Be punctual for business meetings, and arrive as a group, lined up in order of rank.

10. Avoid complimenting a businesswoman's appearance as this may be misconstrued as amorous advances

11. Never touch, hug or kiss a person of the opposite sex at a business meeting. Unlike in the West, this could be misread!

12. Jackets are not required for men for business meetings due to the tropical humidity and heat. Women may wear pantyhoses in the more formal offices.

13. Be careful about gift-giving as they could be mis-interpreted as bribes. Always think "group" when dealing with Asians.

A presentation to an office or a group can usually be given and will not be seen as grafts. Appropriate gifts should be given on appropriate occasions, such as the final banquet concluding a deal.

If you must give a gift to an individual, give it in private so as not to offend the rest of the group.

At any rate, never give expensive gifts, a small token gift will be appreciated! And don't be surprised if your Singaporean counterpart disclaims, "Oh no, you shouldn't, no need!". It's the polite response to a gift.