DOING business overseas is tricky, especially when you consider the divergent cultures and its taboos. Some simple faux pas, they say, can really do you in. But regardless if one is doing business in Saudi, Vietnam, France, India or China, there are some basic rudiments that apply across the board, which are acultural. In fact, they are far more simple than having to memorise the intimidating list of cultural do’s and dont’s.
Proton Holdings Bhd’s soured deal with its Chinese joint-venture partner Goldstar Heavy Industrial Co Ltd which it ventured into in 2002 to set up a car manufacturing plant in Dongguan, Guangdong Province serves as a mighty good lesson on how not to do business abroad as it has clearly paid scant attention to several key rules.