Guide to Information on Asia

Use commercial guides on Asia to increase your international business

By Catherine Ann Rayburn-Trobaugh, Writer/Owner, CRT Writng Services

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use government commercial guides on Asia for better perspective

Cultures and etiquette vary greatly in Asia, and Arab business customs are vastly different than business etiquette in India. Commercial guides are very specific in the information about Asia as well as being precise in the regions targeted.

I recommend: Do a search on commercial guides on Asia through the Department of State commercial site to focus on the country or region you are doing business with. Department of State background notes focus on specific regions of Asia.

Use consulting firms to help create a strategy in addition to using the commercial guides on Asia

Information is only good if you put it into practice. A private consulting firm can not only gather information on Asia for you, they can develop a plan to implement the results of the findings.

I recommend: Business Strategies International has a section on etiquette tips as well as their own consulting business. Asia Corporate Training offers courses and workshops customized to your needs that focuses on global communications.

Stay current with changes in information on Asia

Information about Asia changes rapidly, and it's important to stay up-to-date. In addition to government commercial guides on Asia, look for commercial suppliers of information on international business practices in Asia.

I recommend: AsianBIS has a variety of sources of information on Asia including up-to-date credit reports and individual business data, and will customize reports to your needs. Also stay current with information on Asian business practices with organizations like Asian Business Central.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that Asia is not a single culture: information on South Asia will be vastly different than information on East Asia.
• •  Asian business customs will not always differ from Western customs, but when they do, a little bit of respect will go a long way to win goodwill as well as business.