Getting to Know Portugal - Essay Example

The other important issue that changes in different countries is the taxation. Different countries tax different amounts for different goods. A person willing to venture into international spheres needs to realize this and thus find out the tax for the country he is going to. Additionally, it is important to note that there are some international rules that govern all countries in the world. A good example is dumping. Dumping is disallowed by international law. Therefore, this law applies to all countries.

This paper will go into the details regarding international business particularly in Portugal and how one would conduct international business in the country. Legal System For decades, Portugal has been known to be a bit relaxed as regards their legal system. However, business people coming to Portugal must adhere to the Commercial Code, Competition legislation, Securities Code as well as the /Commercial Companies Code. Therefore, carrying out business in that country may seem to be easy relative to its more stringent European counterparts.

It is important to identify the sources of law in Portugal. The country has both a parliamentary system and constitutional republic (Ibpus.com, 2008). Other than the constitution, the law that regulates trade in Portugal is also found in the ordinary laws that govern the land as enacted by the National Assembly. The country also follows the laws of the land as stipulated by the European Union, of which it is part. The EU became one trade area without internal tariffs. Additionally, it applies common standards to the entire range of commercial life.

The unit of currency used in the country is the Euro. It is important that one familiarizes oneself with the law as per the European Union because Portugal too is part of that law. Culture The Portuguese take their culture rather seriously. They speak their language and are very adherent to their particular customs and norms. The Portuguese are a rather laid back people who even when conducting business do it in a very relaxed manner. The country has a very rich history that is the pride of its people.

The Portuguese culture is one that embraces its people indiscriminately. When one is in Portugal, one feels a special sense of belonging and thus one has to conform to their ways. However, it leaves room for personal development and preference. It is imperative that the Portuguese build lasting bonds with each other and take their personal time to develop those relationships. The citizens of Portugal may be assumed to have a certain degree of xenophobia. This is in the sense that they only conduct business with those that they know.

It is rare for the Portuguese to associate with a stranger even if it is only for professional reasons. For one to successfully conduct business with the Portuguese one must foist take their time to get to know these people and their ways. It is important to note that in Portugal unlike many other countries, business relationships subsist between people as opposed to companies (Paulo and Bento, 2009). Communication The official languages in the country are Mirandese and Portuguese, although Portuguese dominates (Sitkin, & Bowen, 2013).

Most business people in the country speak some bit of English although not fluently. Therefore, language barrier remains a big problem for the conduct of business in Portugal. As a business person with the intention of setting up