Doing Business in Singapore
Singapore gained its independence in 1965 and has been working ever since
then to show it is a country of immigrants who want a better life for themselves.
Singapore is a country with much diversification and tolerance for peoples
of all races and backgrounds. The people of Singapore follow the Confusion
teachings but also try to maintain a sense of balanced respect for everyone.
The family is at the heart of Singaporean culture, with a reverence for the
elderly population.
Building Business Relationships in Singapore
Building business relationships in Singapore requires you to take time to
consider any questions you are asked and never jump ahead to an answer. In
Singaporean society you should always be mindful of others and their thoughts
and opinions.
Business Introductions
Introductions in Singapore depend on the age and ethnic makeup of the participants
at a meeting. Generally the eldest will be introduced and men will be expected
to shake hands. However, due to some religious reasons, it is often the custom
to simply bow to business women rather than shake their hands.
Business Cards / Chinese Language
In Singapore business cards are exchanged after introductions are completed
and everyone has shaken hands. You should offer your card in both hands and
accept them from others with a single hand. You should never write on another
business person’s business card in their presence, unless they have
asked you to. You should always treat their business cards as if they were
people, and you should make sure you never hand out a tattered card of our
own.
If you are trying to establish ongoing business relationships in Singapore,
it is a good idea to have your business cards translated into simplified
Chinese on their backside, and have them printed on simplified Chinese characters
in gold ink.
Teamwork and Individuality
Singaporeans follow Confusion’s teachings and believe that the group
always comes before the individual. If someone disagrees with another, they
will generally remain silent and discuss the issue in private, because to
do so in a public meeting would cause both parties to loose face. However,
today this is giving way a bit and more of the Western ways of communication
and business are starting to influence how things are done.
Language and Translation
Mandarin Chinese is spoken in Singapore. With the Chinese language there
are spoken dialects of the language and written forms. For example
in Singapore they speak Mandarin Chinese and write in Simplified Chinese.The
English dialect used is primarily British English, with some American
English influences. Use Software to Translate English to Simplified Chinese or Simplified Chinese
to English
Because of the British influence in Singapore, much of business today is
conducted in English. However, you should be prepared to conduct business
in Chinese as well.
Translation software can be purchased
which will allow you to translate your text and documents into Simplified
Chinese for better communication. Having a Chinese translator on your
laptop will be very useful
for you in Singapore.
What Can Chinese Translation Software Do For You?
• Convert text from English to Chinese or Chinese to English
•
Translate e-mail messages and documents to and from the Simplified
Chinese language
•
Translate business letters, memorandum, and report into Chinese or
English
•
Convert Word, Excel, Power Point and PDF files.
Tip: If you rely on software completely to do the translation and do not
have human to proof your document, send both the English and the Chinese
translation and put a note on the translated text to let the recipient know
you have used software to do the translation for you. This way if there is
any question they can refer back to the original English document.
Final Thoughts
Traveling to Singapore on business can be very exciting and enlightening.
Make sure to keep the customs of the country in your mind. Navigating
through Singapore can be easy because many public signs and official
publications are in English, although there are
translated versions in other official languages. It will be helpful
if you make sure you bring along your Chinese translation software
for ease of communication.
Related Items:
Chinese Translation
Software
Chinese Dialects - Mandarin,
Cantonese and more.
How to type in Chinese
|
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