How to Negotiate with Bulgarian Business Partners? Avoid Joking About Their Country

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This coastal country, with a population of over 7 million, is very friendly to guests and business partners.

The Bulgarian mentality and ways of negotiating with partners are close to those of southeastern Europe. During a business meeting, you may be surprised by the casual and friendly behavior. It is customary to start a conversation with general or personal topics, for example, asking how you like the host country, where you stayed, etc.

The most important thing is to make a good first impression. If the conversation goes smoothly, you can consider this as evidence that you have received approval cambodia telegram phone numbers from your business partner. However, silence or short answers may indicate that the Bulgarian side is not very satisfied. Mutual familiarity, of course, should not be exaggerated either. Business is business.

It is a good idea to shake hands and maintain eye contact during the first meeting. Bulgarians tend to dress somewhat conservatively. The business dress code is followed even on a hot summer day. It is acceptable to wear a shirt without a tie and a light business jacket, which you can take off and put next to you if the other participants in the meeting agree.

It is important to know that in Bulgaria, agreement is expressed by shaking the head, and disagreement is expressed by nodding (unlike in Lithuania).

The most important thing is punctuality.
It is important to arrive on time for meetings, but Bulgarians are usually tolerant if you are no more than five minutes late. If you are stuck in traffic, have a traffic accident, or similar circumstances, it is best to call and explain the problem. The other party is usually receptive and willing to continue negotiating.

If you are more than five minutes late (up to 20 minutes), you can expect your negotiating partners to be unhappy, which can make the meeting difficult. If you are going to be more than 25 minutes late, it is best not to show up at all, as your Bulgarian partners will not be waiting for you. In such situations, it is better to schedule another meeting. It is important to keep in mind that meetings usually last longer than you planned. This should be expected, especially if you have planned several meetings in one day.