| Background | | | | take pride in one of their most well-know spirit drink |
| Albania is located on the Southeast coast of the | | | | “raki” – (pronounced like |
| Mediterranean Sea, with Italy to the West and | | | | “raikee”), made of grape juice and as strong |
| Greece to the South. Rome, the Italian capital, is only | | | | as vodka – and will insist that their foreign guests |
| one hour away by plane and Athens, the Greek | | | | at least try some of this drink. It is an offence to |
| capital, is about two hours away by plane. Albania | | | | refuse and just trying some is, in most occasions, |
| has a population of about 3 million people, with Tirana, | | | | quite acceptable. |
| the capital of Albania, home of more than 1 million | | | | Albanians usually pay for their guests’ meals, |
| Albanians. The second largest city is Durrës, on the | | | | especially female guests the first time they are |
| Adriatic Sea coast, of about 200,000 people. The | | | | having lunch or dinner with guests. They will insist |
| Tirana International Airport is the only international | | | | that they foot the bill, even when you have invited |
| airport in Albania and has direct flights to most | | | | them to your favorite restaurant. There is a tacit |
| European capitals. | | | | understanding that the second time, their guests are |
| Business etiquette | | | | expected to repay this courtesy. Sometimes lunches |
| Appearance | | | | and dinners are not planned and it may happen that |
| Albanians dress in European fashion and lively colours, | | | | you will be invited for lunch or dinner immediately |
| with business attire being more casual than their | | | | after concluding a meeting, especially if something |
| European colleagues and their business behaviour | | | | good, like the signing of a contract, came out of that |
| more laid back. Albanians may dress casually for | | | | meeting. This will usually serve to |
| important meetings; women sometimes may dress in | | | | ‘celebrate’ what has been achieved in this |
| slightly revealing attire. | | | | meeting. |
| | | | Besides lunches and dinners, coffees are very popular |
| Meetings | | | | in Albania. It seems that everyone drinks coffee, |
| Business meetings may often take place in | | | | although sometimes ‘going out for a coffee’ |
| unconventional places, such as café houses, | | | | may mean that strong drinks like ‘raki’ will |
| residential dwellings, as well as during taxi | | | | be consumed. Coffees take time and there is no |
| rides. Often not much attention is paid to equipment | | | | such thing as a ‘five minute coffee |
| in conference rooms or other meeting places and | | | | break.” Sometimes having a coffee may take |
| these auditoriums may be smaller than anticipated for | | | | longer than an hour or two. |
| large and important meetings. Contacts are | | | | |
| frequently made verbally and payments for goods | | | | Gifts |
| and services are conducted in cash. | | | | Gifts are very important for Albanians and mandatory |
| Albanians do not seem bound by time; lateness for | | | | for special guests. You are expected to give a gift in |
| important events, including business meetings and | | | | return if you have been given something. Money is |
| lunch/dinner parties are not unusual. | | | | never a good gift as it presumes you want a bribe or |
| | | | something illegal from the receiving party. Flowers |
| Meeting etiquette | | | | are generally not given as gifts. Good gifts are |
| Albanians shake hands when meeting strangers and | | | | generally works of art from your home country, such |
| they kiss or hug the men and women they consider | | | | as small paintings, sculptures, and other memorabilia |
| close acquaintances or good friends. Sometimes | | | | that will most likely decorate their offices. If you are |
| these circles will include the potential foreign business | | | | aware that your potential business partner has |
| partners they have just met. Business cards are not | | | | children, a very good idea is to bring a gift for their |
| mandatory and there is no custom of exchanging | | | | children. |
| business cards at either the beginning or the end of a | | | | |
| meeting. Assistants, secretaries and/or interpreters | | | | Business negotiations |
| may not be introduced. Sometimes, especially when | | | | Haggling is totally acceptable in most stores in |
| meeting high officials outside their own offices, | | | | Albania. When negotiating your business with your |
| bodyguards may accompany these officials up to the | | | | potential Albanian partner, keep in mind that no offer |
| door of the meeting venue and may often wait | | | | from them is ever final until you have accepted it. If |
| immediately outside this door. | | | | you are going to negotiate some items, such as |
| | | | prices, places of delivery, etc, this needs to be done |
| Communications | | | | before the end of the meeting, unless it is clear that |
| Most young Albanians (younger than 35 years old) | | | | these items will be discussed at a follow-up |
| speak fluent English and often other languages, mainly | | | | meeting. Albanians are generally reasonable and willing |
| Italian. Most government officials speak English or | | | | to negotiate and accommodate their business |
| some other European language (French, Italian, | | | | partners. |
| German, and Greek) to some extent. However, this | | | | Cultural awareness and conversation |
| may not always be true with private enterprises. In | | | | Albanians are aware of their problems and they like |
| any case, interpreters are widely used for any types | | | | their foreign friends to point them out. Women in |
| of meetings, sometimes the interpreter being the | | | | Albania are usually considered as belonging to |
| assistant or the secretary of the Albanian | | | | someone if they have a boyfriend, fiancé or |
| entrepreneur/businessman. Contracts can be made | | | | husband and flirting or even remotely indicating an |
| verbally and/or in written form. Albanians do not like | | | | interest in them (for example by saying to someone, |
| much paperwork and try to keep things simple. Also, | | | | “Your girlfriend is very beautiful”) may cause |
| private businesses have very few layers of | | | | very unexpected and unpleasant situations. It is wise |
| bureaucracy and the same person may serve as a | | | | to refrain from any comments about someone’s |
| manager, point of contact, secretary, accountant, as | | | | wife, fiancée or girlfriend. |
| well as driver for a given company. There are many | | | | Politics is another issue to avoid talking about to |
| able Albanian translators and interpreters that may be | | | | Albanians. In Albania everyone is very passionate |
| hired at hourly or daily rates. | | | | about their political beliefs and one of the fastest |
| A nod of the head in Albania means “no” and | | | | ways to infuriate your potential business partner is |
| shaking of the head means “yes”. This is | | | | unknowingly insulting his favorite politician or political |
| very confusing; therefore it is safer to ask that your | | | | party. Albanians, however, may initiate political |
| business partner verbalizes what he means when | | | | conversations and in these cases you may engage in |
| asked a “yes” or “no” question. | | | | exchanges of information about the political system in |
| | | | your country, especially if you are from a country |
| Payments | | | | which is geographically remote from Albania. |
| Bank transfers and credit card payments are possible, | | | | Smoking is allowed in public and in most restaurants, |
| although most Albanians prefer cash. The Euro and | | | | which typically will not have a non-smoking section. |
| the U.S. dollar are two of the most preferred | | | | Sometimes it may be considered an insult to ask |
| currencies used for payments. In stores and markets | | | | your business partner to put out their cigarettes, |
| foreigners may be charged more than locals, | | | | especially if they are already smoking them. If the |
| especially since most items may not have their prices | | | | meeting takes place in your company’s office, |
| advertised. Use of old and new “lek”, which | | | | then you may choose to display “NO |
| is the local currency in Albania, is also very confusing | | | | SMOKING” signs in advance of your business |
| and you should ask someone once in Albania for a | | | | partner’s visit. |
| detailed explanation. When shopping, it is better to | | | | Homosexuality in Albania, although legal, is not fully |
| go with your interpreter or someone who knows | | | | accepted and it is looked down upon by most people |
| Albanian. | | | | as a sign of weakness and even sickness. |
| | | | Religion |
| Eating etiquette | | | | Albania is considered a Muslim country, with 70 |
| While Albanians love good food, at the same time | | | | percent of the population belonging to this religion. |
| they love to keep fit. You will rarely see overweight | | | | However, most of this Muslim population are Muslims |
| Albanians, although recently their number has | | | | because of their family origins and traditions and not |
| increased. Albanian cuisine has been influenced by | | | | because of choice. Albanian Muslims do not have any |
| Greek, Turkish and Italian cuisines and the food | | | | of the characteristics of the Muslim religion in the |
| served in Albania has many similarities to the typical | | | | Arab countries, such as the teachings, the |
| food for these countries. Very few Albanians are | | | | attendance in mosques, and the devotion to the |
| vegetarians, therefore, it may be difficult to find | | | | practicing of their religious rites. Instead, Albanian |
| suitable vegetarian food. | | | | Muslims gladly marry and cohabit with the rest of the |
| Albanians eat lots of meat; beef, pork, lamb, as well | | | | Albanian population, which is 20 percent Orthodox |
| as chicken and fish. These will most likely be served | | | | Christian and 10 percent Catholic Christian. In addition, |
| at any business lunch or supper. Liquor is widely used | | | | there are small numbers of Protestant believers. |
| in Albania and wine and beer, as well as strong spirits, | | | | For more information, please see our website or |
| will be served alongside lunch or supper. Albanians | | | | email us. |