Geography:	Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay. Capital: Buenos aires (3,000,000 pop.) Geography: Second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific; diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south. Area: Total: 2,766,890 km2. Area - comparative: Ontario + Quebec. Land boundaries: Total: 9,861 km. Coastline: 4,989 km. Climate: Mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest.
Population:	Population: 40,913,584 (July 2009 est.). Ethnic groups: White (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%. Religions: Nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%. Languages: Spanish Official.
Government type:	Government type: Constitutional Republic. Administrative divisions: 23 provinces and 1 federal district (City of Buenos Aires). Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain). National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825). Executive branch: Chief of state: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2007); the president is the chief of state and head of government head of government. (Next election 2011). Legislative branch: Bicameral National Congress. International organization participation: Mercosur, OAS, UN.
Economy:	Economy - overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. GDP - composition by sector: Agriculture: 9.2%, Industry: 34.1%, Services: 56.7% (2008 est.). Labor force: 16,000,000 (2008 est.). Unemployment rate: 7.8% (September 2008). Industries: Food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel. Imports - partners: Brazil 34.6%, US 12.6%, China 12%, Germany 5% (2007). Exports - partners: Brazil 19.1%, China 9.4%, US 7.9%, Chile 7.6% (2007). Exports - commodities: Soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat. Imports - commodities: Machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals, plastics.
THE PEOPLE & COUNTRY:	1. Good conversation topics: Children, football soccer, tennis, history, culture, home. 2. Two very good meals: Asado (Argentine barbecue) or any kind of pasta specially each day 29st is a tradition eat it. 3. Tango is a great dance and music but it is not the national one, it is from Buenos Aires so if you meet someone from another part of the country will be considered rude ask about if this person knows how to dance it or something. Every province or region has its dancing or rhythm. 4. It is a very long country from north to south (5000 km), so you will find many differents seasons and weathers. It is not a tropical country. Buenos Aires has four seasons.
MEETING AND GREETING:	1. Man greeting Man: Men shake hands when greeting one another and maintain direct eye contact.  2. A firm handshake is a sign of strength and honesty.   3. At a first meeting a handshake will suffice and is sometimes combined with slight touches on the arms and/or elbows.  4. Good friends and family will engage in a hearty hug or abrazo which is sometimes combined with a few firm slaps on the back. 5. Woman greeting Woman: At a first meeting, a light handshake will suffice, sometimes usually accompanied by a slight nod and warm smile.  6. Friends generally kiss each other once on the cheek while lightly holding both hands.  7. Greetings between Men & Women: At a first meeting a regular handshake will do.  8. Friends, family and long-time acquaintances will share a light kiss on the cheek which consists of touching cheeks a making a slight kissing noise.  This is usually accompanied with a touch on the arm and shoulder and in some cases a making an appointment for a meeting is most necessary, usually 1-3 weeks beforehand. 9. It is difficult to arrange meetings too far in advance. If you do arrange meetings well in advance, do not be surprised if they are postponed nearer to the date. (Another example of Argentine short-termism.) 10. Arrive on time for meetings, but expect Argentinean associates to arrive up to a half hour late, especially when you are meeting with higher level executives.
TITLES & BUSINESS CARDS:	1. Titles are very important and it is best to address people directly by using their professional title only.  If they do not have professional titles like, Doctor, Lawyer, etc, they should be addressed as Mr., Mrs., or Miss, plus their surnames. 2. There is no specific ritual surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards. 3. It is advisable, although not required, to have one side of your business card translated into Spanish.  Present your business card with the Spanish side facing the recipient. 4. It is common for people to refer to each other through the use of surnames rather than first names. This is a sign of respect rather than aloofness.
EYE CONTACT:	1. Argentines favor direct eye contact over indirect. 2. Maintaining eye contact is viewed as sense of respect and interest in the person who is speaking. 3. During conversations sustained eye contact is commonplace rather than intermittent.
PERSONAL SPACE & TOUCHING:	1. Argentines tend to stand close to one another while talking.  One to two feet is normal.  It can be considered rude to back up or away from someone while they are speaking. 2. There is also a fair amount of touching between men and men, men and women and women and women while conversing.  This includes hand on shoulders, hand on arms, and hand on hands. 3. Do not be put off by people standing in close proximity to you or by strong levels of eye contact, this is normal in Argentina and should not be viewed as threatening or invasive.
CORPORATE CULTURE:	1. Beginning with small talk helps establish a base for the relationship, after which discussion of business matters can begin.  2. Wait for your host to initiate. 3. Not only do Argentines prefer the spoken word over the written word, they also prefer face-to-face meetings to telephone conversations. 4. This means that by far the best way to develop good business relations in Argentina is to take the trouble to visit people. (However, one complication here is that it can be quite difficult to get people to commit to meetings very much in advance as they prefer to be able to manage their time on a week by week, day by day basis). 5. Meetings will usually start with a long pre-meeting chat which will cover topics as diverse as soccer, weekend activities and holidays but which is unlikely to include any mention of business. 6. You can also expect a fairly lengthy repetition of this type of conversation at the end of the meeting. It is important to engage as fully as possible in these discussions as they are seen as a vital part of the relationship building process, coldness during these parts of the meeting could be very costly in both the short and long term. 7. Flexibility and spontaneity are both greatly prized in Argentina, as befits a country where people have traditionally been at the mercy of political and social forces beyond their control. 8. Punctuality is much tighter than in certain other South American countries but agendas are very likely to be ignored. 9. Meetings can, therefore, appear to be quite noisy boisterous affairs with people frequently interrupting each other to add points or disagree with what is being said. 10. Again this liveliness is viewed as a positive as it shows engagement and interest. 11. It is best to arrive on time even though you may be kept waiting.  One usually has to wait longer depending on the seniority of the person they are meeting. 12. Expect meetings to commence with quite a lot of small-talk. View this as an important element of the meeting — don't be impatient and try to rush it. 13. Do not expect that everybody will have done lots of in-depth analytical planning for the meeting, they may have done but you can not be certain. 14. Prior appointments are necessary 15. Argentine executives may put in a very long day, often lasting until 10:00 p.m.. An 8:00 p.m. business meeting is not inusual. 16. Business dinners are popular and are usually held in restaurants; business lunches are uncommon outside of Buenos Aires, since most people go home to eat lunch. 16. Contracts are lengthy and detailed. A contract is not final until all of its elements are signed. Any portion can be re-negotiated. Get everything in writing. 18. An Argentine contact is essential to wading through government bureaucracy. 19. Be punctual for business appointments, but prepare to wait thirty minutes for your counterpart, especially if you are meeting an important person. 20. The pace of business in Argentina is slower than in the United States. A meeting that is going well could last much longer than intended, even if it means postponing the next engagement. 21. Personal relationships are important in this culture, even in the business world, and cultivating a relationship with your associates will go a long way toward quick, effective business dealings. 22. Argentines often need several meetings and extensive discussion to make deals. 23. Decisions are made at the top. Try to arrange meeting with high-level personnel. 24. Guests at a meeting are greeted and escorted to their chairs. The visiting senior executive is seated opposite the Argentine senior executive. 25. During business meetings, sustain a relaxed manner, maintain eye contact and restrict the use of gestures. Don’t take a hard sell approach. 26. Be prepared for a certain amount of small talk before getting down to business. 27. Confirm meetings one week in advance 28. Although beset by numerous economic, political and social difficulties, Argentina remains a country which holds vast potential for the careful, well-prepared business investor. 29. Historical factors have made Argentines unsure of the long-term and are, therefore, often happiest when focussing on shorter-term issues. 30. People in the country are very status conscious and this feeds through into their attitudes to business and corporate structures. 31. Managers are expected to manage and decisiveness and clear instructions are expected and respected. 32. Managers and subordinates will develop very close personal bonds. The manager is expected to take a deep interest in the interests and well-being of subordinates. 33. Greater emphasis is placed upon the spoken than the written word. Don't rely solely on email to convey a message, follow up with a phone call or a meeting. 34. English language levels are generally good and many people can speak either Italian or German (as well, of course, as Spanish.) 35. Open, free debate is viewed positively and you are expected to express your opinions strongly. However, this should never be done if it is likely to lead to a direct confrontation. Remember how vital the relationship is and never do anything to jeopardise it. 36. Expect meetings to be noisy, lively events with several people speaking at once, frequent interruptions and extensive use of gesture and exaggerated body language. 37. Secure an Argentine contact before making the trip. The contact can help you secure appointments and help you navigate government bureaucracy before and after your arrival. 38. Make appointments with high-level executives as often as possible. Your Argentine contact can help with this. The business hierarchy is very important in Argentina, and decisions are made from the top. Meetings with lower-level associates will likely just necessitate further meetings, especially if important business is being discussed. 39. Be relaxed and attentive in meetings. 40. There are probably two key issues which need to be assimilated at an early stage. Firstly, with a history of turmoil and unrest, Argentines are happiest when focussing on ‘quick wins’ and short term business interests. It has always been difficult to plan long-term in a country where tomorrow was uncertain. 41. Secondly, personal relationships have always been of enormous importance in business dealings. Governments may come and go, inflation may be raging but the only things that can be relied upon are the strengths inherent in good, stable long-term relationships. 42. A great deal of respect is given to people who speak freely and express themselves forcefully. It is possible to disagree with people and even criticize their opinions and yet remain on friendly terms. Indeed by remaining uninvolved and aloof, you may be viewed as disengaged and disinterested.
NEGOTIATIONS:	1. Avoid hard selling and any sort of conflict or confrontation. Argentines are tough negotiators. Concessions will not come quickly or easily. Good relationships with counterparts will shorten negotiations. 2. Argentines respond much better to the soft sell. 3. The issue of saving face is important so don’t be surprised if it appears that your Argentine counterpart seems to agree to everything you say and then you find out later what they really felt. 4. Final decisions are usually made by the highest ranking officers, so it is best to have them in the meeting if possible. 5. Make sure you are dealing with the real decision-maker and not just somebody you assume ought to be the decision-maker. This is not to say that developing business in Argentina will, from this point on, be easy. The country still has a number of strategic, bureaucratic and cultural problems which need to be overcome by any outsiders who wish to develop fruitful long-term business interests in the country.
VIEWS OF TIME:	1. Argentines tend to place more emphasis on people and relationships than to the strict adherence of set schedules. 2. While the bus, train, and plane schedules will be adhered to for the most part, showing up late to a party or social function is quite common. 3. Be prepared to put in your time. Many Argentineans work long days, sometimes until 10 p.m., and progress in meetings may be slow. It is not unusual to meet over dinner at 8 p.m. or for meetings to run very long, sometimes even necessitating cancellation of later appointments. 4. Punctuality is somewhat better than in some other South American countries but you cannot assume that a meeting will start and finish on time.
DRESS:	1. Argentines respect and appreciate those who dress well.  When in doubt, stay conservative and formal, yet stylish.  Dress to impress. For Men: Conservative, blue, grey and/or brown colored suits with white or light blue shirts and conservative ties. For Women: Wear suits or dresses that are elegant and feminine with good quality accessories.  Women usually wear blue or muted colors with dark leather shoes. 2. Appearances are very important in both business circles and society at large in Argentina. You will be partly judged on the way you look. If you are prosperous and successful you should look it.Business attire is rather conservative with men favouring dark suits with ties. Women dress in a more subdued fashion than in the neighbouring country of Brazil with dark suits again being most appropriate. 3. Dress smartly and soberly as you will be judged partly on your appearance. Dress business conservative. High-quality wear is recommended, as it will be noticed and will impress Argentinean associates. Dress is very important for making a good impression in Argentina; your entire wardrobe will be scrutinized.
BODY LANGUAGE:	1. The chin flick; flicking your fingers under your chin signifies not knowing or not caring. 2. People beckon one another by extending an arm and making a scratching motion with their fingers. 3. Making a circular motion using the index finger while pointing to the side of one’s head signifies having or making a phone call. 4. As throughout most of South America, Argentines exhibit certain distinctive body language characteristics. Firstly, they stand in very close proximity to each other in comparison to many other cultures. Secondly they have very strong levels of eye contact and thirdly they are highly tactile in many situations. This combination can seem quite threatening for people from cultures who’s normal approach is more subdued (Scandinavians, the Japanese etc.) It is important that you try to accept these body language issues as it is unlikely that the locals will adapt to you. 5. Restrict use of hand gestures. 6. A pat on the shoulder is a sign of friendship. 7. A sweeping gesture beginning under the chin and continuing up over the top of the head is used to mean "I don’t know" or "I don’t care". With thumb and finger touching (as if holding a pinch of salt), one taps them with the index finger to indicate "hurry up" or "a lot". 8. Make sure to cover your mouth when yawning or coughing. 9. Don’t put your feet up on any furniture.
DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT:	1. As would be expected in such a relationship oriented culture, entertaining is an important part of the overall business cycle. 2. Never underestimate the importance of the bonding that can take place on such occasions. 3. All business meals should be viewed as a primarily social situation and business should only be discussed if the topic is introduced by your local contacts. View meals as more of an opportunity to get to know the people you are with much better on the all-important social level. If business is to be discussed, it will usually be left until later in the proceedings, over the coffee. 4. Good table manners are essential and Argentines eat following the European convention of holding both the knife and fork at all times. Hands should be kept visible at all times, don’t lower your hands to below the table where they cannot be seen, because they will think that you hide or your are playing with something. 5. Long meals and conversation is the norm. Crossing the knife and fork signal "I am finished". Never pour wine back-handed; it’s considered impolite. When dining, keep your hands on the table, not in your lap. 6. A guest should always wait for the host to sit down before sitting, and to open the door for him before leaving. 7. Tender beef and red wine virtual national symbols. From another country beef and red wine compare poorly to theirs. 8. Service charge will often be added to your bill, it is still considered good form to leave a tip of around 10 - 15%.
GIFTS:	1. Avoid bringing gifts to a first meeting. 2. If invited to an Argentine’s house, it is appropriate to bring flowers, wine (Argentinian of course), and or chocolates. 3. Do not give anything that is obviously expensive as it could be construed as a bribe. 4. Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped and expect them to be opened right away. 5. Avoid gifts like a letter opener, knives, and or scissors as they can mean a severing of relations. 6. Gifts to be avoided include personal items such as ties and shirts, leather, and knives. High taxes on imported liquor make this a highly appreciated gift; the most popular are scotch and French champagne. 7. If the visitor is entertained in the Argentine home, he/she should arrange to send flowers or candy to his hostess. Bird-of-paradise flowers are highly prized
GENDER ISSUES:	1. Work opportunities for women are varied and available depending on social class. 2. Women are still expected to be housewives. 3. Female business visitors can expect to be treated with politeness and respect, although they are unlikely to meet other senior women within their Argentine count. 4. Although many Argentine women work, it is fairly unusual to meet one who holds a very senior position within an organisation. 5. Most women will be found in administrative roles or in middle management positions at best. - Visiting female executives should not really encounter any particular gender bias and can expect to be treated with great warmth and extreme politeness. 6. Do not be too surprised if male contacts touch more often than would be normal in your culture, this is normal in Argentina.
TABOOS:	1. The inverted American “OK” sign is an obscene gesture that means screw you.  Avoid it. 2. Slapping the inside of the thighs is usually obscene as well. 3. Yawning  tends to be considered rude. 4. Try to cover your mouth at the very least. 5. Eating in the street or on public transportation is considered rude 6. Pouring wine with the left hand while grasping the neck of the bottle is a big no.  7. Standing with one’s hands on his hips may signifiy anger, boredom, and/or a challenge. 8. Extending the pinky and index finger while bending the middle and ring finger can mean one’s wife is cheating on them.  Avoid it if possible. 9. Avoid discussing issues such as past political problems, South American levels of poverty, personal matters… Malvinas Island War: British called them Falklands, it is not the real name so do not say it, call them with the right name Malvinas. This war is a very painfull feeling for argentines, never touch this subject. And if some argentine talks about it try to do not give your opinion or you may be lose your business. 10. Military dictartorship: Do not talk about it. 11. Peron and Evita: You do not know who love or hate them. Do not compare the real Evita with Madonna. (Just she had made a movie).

Geography:	Maritimes provinces
Population:	2,700,000
Government type:	Parliamentary Democracy
Economy:	Natural Resources, oil refinery, export trade
THE PEOPLE & COUNTRY:	Nice
MEETING AND GREETING:	Hello
TITLES & BUSINESS CARDS:	Shake hands and see straight to the eye briefly
EYE CONTACT:	It is fine
PERSONAL SPACE & TOUCHING:	Keep distance, and not touching. It is considered inappropiated.
CORPORATE CULTURE:	1. Informal addressing between fellow workers and partenrs. 2. Similar to US
NEGOTIATIONS:	Long term previous talking References is a must
VIEWS OF TIME:	Everything is for long term
DRESS:	Casual
BODY LANGUAGE:
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