Doing business in Bosnia and Herzegovina

If you intend to do business in a foreign country, it is important to be well-informed about the culture and language there. The importance of general etiquette when doing business is often underestimated. Within the United Kingdom, there are differences of culture between different companies, but once you travel abroad, these differences only become greater, particularly the further away you travel, such as to Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example. Customs and ways of doing things which may apply in the UK may be completely different here. In order to help, our experts have put together some important tips in this article for anyone who is considering doing business in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The meeting

When you meet someone from this country for the first time, there are various things that you have to pay attention to. Address the person you are speaking to by their title, followed by their surname. Only ever use a forename if you are invited to do so. It is also important to be patient when doing business in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Don’t start talking business immediately, but ask politely about the other person’s life, their family, and their business.

Legislation and rules

Doing business with companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina can sometimes be complicated because thanks to the many laws and rules which apply in the country. It is advisable to have a local lawyer who is familiar with these laws and regulations so that you are not confronted by an unpleasant surprise.

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Doing business in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gifts

Gifts for clients and business contacts are not immediately expected in this country. When you are invited to someone’s home, however, it is customary to bring a present, such as a bottle of wine or some chocolates. Typical gifts from your own country will also go down very well.

The language

Bosnia-Herzegovina has three official languages: Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian; all three are standardised variants of the Serbo-Croat language group. We can help you with translations out of, and into, these languages. We only work with professional, experienced translators who are native speakers of the target language. Whether you need contracts, leaflets, or commercial documents translated, we have the experts for you. For more information, please get in touch with us. Our project managers will be happy to talk to you.