1. Republic of Turkey
Capitol: Ankara
Language: Turkish
Largest city: Istanbul
Population: 77 millions
Presented by Marcio,
Danny, Ikumi and Rina
2. Contents
1. General overview of culture
2. Top ten list of "do's" and "dont's" for business culture
3. Some guidelines
3. Religion > "Islam"
> 99% of the Turkish population is Muslim.
> The believers of Islam are called Moslems (Muslims).
> There are 82,693 mosques in Turkey.
> Freedom of religion, the government respects this right in practice.
Mihrimah Mosque - Istambul - 1565> There are five requirements in Islam (called the Five Pillars of Islam):
1. Belief that "There is no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is His messenger"
2. Offering of five daily prayers.
3. Fasting during Ramazan.
4. Paying Zakat, a compulsory annual tax of 2.5 per cent on savings and assets. It is distributed among the poor.
5. pilgrimage to Mecca for those who can afford it financially and physically
4. All over the country there are places called by the Turks "Cay Bahcesi" that means "Tea Garden".
Those are the most loved places to chat and met friends. There is a Turkish tea house in every town,
city and village. It is part of all the establishments that go into making up a community.
Some tea gardens are just used by men, some other just by families and some others are mixed (men
and women). In small villages you can notice a men tea garden and a family one very clearly, but as
Istanbul is a very big city it will be a little bit harder to find those just for men.
Traditions > "Turkish Tea House"
5. Superstition > Blue Evil Eye in Turkey
Evil eye is a common belief that individuals have the power to look at people, animals or objects to cause
them harm. The turks have devised the evil eye pendant protect you from such not so well meaning people
with their necessarily evil eyes. It is made of molten glass, iron, copper, water and salt. This particular
combination of minerals and metals is believed to provide a shield from the forces of evil.
6. Did you know that Troy is located in Turkey?
It may come as surprise to many but, as per archaeologists, the legendary town of
Troy existed in in Anatolia region of north west Turkey and NOT in Greece.
7. 2009 - Turkey and Armenia have signed a historic
accord normalising relations after a century of hostility.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Armenian counterpart, Edward Nalbandian,
signed the protocols in Switzerland after a delay of more than three hours.. Under the agreement,
Turkey and Armenia are to establish diplomatic ties and reopen their shared border. For Turkey and
Armenia, neighbors sundered by a century of bitterness over the mass killing of Armenians by
Ottoman Turks, the tumultuous day illustrated how hard it is to heal the wounds of history.
8. Day to day etiquette,
values and behaviors> Turks are extremely patriotic. They are proud of their ancestors.
>The family is the most important social unit. Each person is
dependent upon and loyal to the family.
> There is a strong tradition of nepotism in Turkey.
> It is common for Turkish men and women to cheek-kiss one another
when meeting and parting. When you se two guys hugging and kissing
each other in both cheeks in Turkey, don't think they are homosexual.
> new born baby cannot be washed on friday.
> It is rude to point your finger or the sole of your shoe toward a person
> hand kissing is a very important and traditional way to show respect to a
person significantly older than you.
> Turks, most of whom are devout Muslims, may avoid looking into your
eyes in a display of humble behavior.
>Do not stand with your hands on your hips when talking to others,
especially older people or superiors, or put your hands in your pockets.
> When visiting homes, removing your shoes is commonly expected
>Turkish people dont talk such personal questions until a friendship has
been established. (salary, age, etc.)
>"Dutch treat" does not exist in Turkey. If you invite someone to dine, you
pay the bill.
9. Business meeting tips
Some useful tips to remember in doing business with the Turks:
Appointments are necessary, but first meetings are generally more social
Turkish people usually do business with those they trust, like and respect.
Dress conservatively: suits with tie for men and smart outfits for women are preferred.
Be punctual, but don’t expect punctuality from your Turkish counterparts
Don’t use high pressure tactics in order to close a deal, as it may turn against you.
Decision-making is a slow process, so be patient.
At meetings, documentation should be provided in both English and Turkish.
Lunches and dinners are for creating personal relationships. Don’t talk about business during a business meal unless the subject is brought up by your business
counterpart.
A clearly structured and well presented proposal is very important, but not the only factor taken into account in making business decisions.
Small talk is useful for opening communication with most Turkish people.
When greeting, always greet the oldest person first; Turks have a great respect for the elderly.
Exchanging gifts is not necessary in the Turkish business culture, although they would be accepted with gratitude.
Maintain eye contact while speaking.
Speak slowly enough to ensure that you are understood, but without appearing patronising.
10. Business meeting planning
Schedule meetings ahead of time – at least one to two weeks in advance and confirm by email or telephone call.
Learn the proper titles, positions and responsibilities of the people you are meeting with and the proper pronunciation of their names beforehand. You can use
professional or occupational titles to address a Turkish business person.
Make sure that your first contact is through a third party that is well respected. Trade shows, embassies and banks can provide contacts who can open doors and
introduce relevant business partners.
Avoid making appointments during Turkish holidays.
Most businesspeople in Turkey speak some English, French and/or German. However, it is advisable to ask if an interpreter will be needed.
Punctuality is important. If you expect to be late, you should call ahead and give an explanation.
Be familiar with the people in your prospective business partner’s organization and their level of importance in the management hierarchy.
Titles, such as Doctor or Professor, are appreciated, and are often used without adding the person’s family name.