DOING BUSINESS WITH ITALIAN

LANGUAGE
The official language is Italian, but the first language spoken is often a local dialect. Nowadays business people and the young speak acceptable and often good English.

CURRENCY
The current currency is the Euro (plural Euro), which has replaced, in January 2002, the old Lira.

COMMUNICATION AND PROTOCOL
Italians are a passionate and expressive people. They may speak loud and fast and tend to be very expressive of joy, sadness and anger, verbally and by body communication. Body language is common, especially eye communication, but gesticulating and pointing are considered bad manners. Italians always offer their hand to shake - physical closeness and a broad smile are very important in an introduction - and so it is eye contact.

Don't address Italians by their first name, always use their title or Signor (Mr) and Signora (Ms), Italians are quite conservative.  The use of business cards is not as important as with the English or Asians. Italians use business cards as get-well cards, Christmas cards or return-thanks, more or less as English use a greeting card or a complimentary slip. Therefore, you will not always be given a business card at introductions. Generally, the more important the person is, the less titles are on the card.

Topics of discussion regarded as very personal are medical problems, divorce and personal finance. Avoid them. Humorous jokes are always appreciated.
Italians like to put everything in writing, even appointments. They do not use the telephone to make an appointment, unless it is a personal one or if they already know the other person well.

Italians tend to be critic. Criticism is seen as part of the growing together process. When you might think you are being criticized, Italians are in their way trying to be friendly and helpful. After all, they are doing something for someone else's good and they do this only if they care.

NEGOTIATIONS
Firms and government offices have a vertical hierarchy. Contacts and introductions are necessary to start business negotiations.  Italians are impatient - want everything done yesterday- it is a good tactic not to take negotiations for longer than strictly necessary, or they will loose interest.

If trying to sell something, always point high for a start and then be prepared to meet your counterpart somewhere in the middle, Italians like to negotiate and think that they will ultimately end up with a good deal!  Be aware that in August public offices, firms, shops (even groceries) and schools are closed for holidays.

DRESS
Clothes are an indication of success and achievement. For business meetings choose well-cut and fashionable clothes. Casual, expensive designer fashion is also considered chic and trendy. Never wear jewelry for daytime appointments, reserve them for social nighttime meetings.

GIFTS
If invited somewhere for lunch or dinner, bring a box of unwrapped gourmet chocolates (nudi), good vintage wine or an excellent brand of liquor. Flowers are also a nice present, but only for women. A new developing trend, if invited to someone's home, is to bring or send a nicely wrapped basket of fresh, exotic fruit.

ITALIANS IN AUSTRALIA
English is spoken by the young generation, but elderly and uneducated migrants may be unable to speak the standard language and often use a regional dialect. More than 40% of elderly Italians and about 15% of the total population in NSW speak English not so well.

The Italian population in Australia is one of the earliest migrant communities, third only to migrants from the UK and Ireland. It is an aging population as there are few new arrivals, often under the skilled occupation grounds. The areas targeted in dissemination of information to Italians are therefore generally public health and social welfare, transport and farming (Italians still rate at the top of farming lists Australia wide).