uk film council export delegation to mumbai february 2009 ... - BFI

A word of warning - the Rs500 note looks remarkably similar to the Rs100 note.
Baksheesh (tipping)
Tipping is commonplace throughout India, either as a small reward for a small
service (anyone from a waiter to someone who lifts your bags onto the roof of a
bus). Large amounts are not expected - ten rupees should satisfy.
Entrance Fees
The Archeological Survey of India has a double-tiered entry system, with foreign
visitors required to pay $5-20 or its rupee equivalent to enter major archeological
sites. This means that foreigners can find themselves paying 40 times the entrance
fee levied to domestic visitors.
7(iii) Doing Business in Mumbai
For the visiting foreign businessperson, the principal advantage is that English is
the lingua franca. This is despite, or perhaps because of, the large number of
languages that are spoken in India - there are 18 official ones and some 1,600
minor ones.
As India's largest, most multicultural city, Mumbai is a fairly liberal place and its
business culture tends to be informal and friendly—Mumbaikars are famous for
their “chalta hain” (laid-back) attitude. However, traditions still hold in many areas
of behaviour, and it's wise to be prepared.
• Do not expect western levels of speed and efficiency. Getting a document
delivered by courier, sending a fax, or simply gathering colleagues for a business
meeting can all take far longer than seems reasonable. The same goes for
punctuality: if someone promises to meet you in ten minutes, expect arrival in 20.
• Mumbai's traffic is notoriously bad: allow ample time if you need to cross the city
to get to a meeting.
• A handshake is the most common form of greeting, but some women prefer to
press their palms together in a traditional namaste greeting. A man should wait for
a woman to extend her hand before extending his, particularly if she is wearing
traditional Indian clothing.
• Bring plenty of business cards; you will be handing them out frequently, and not
having enough is considered rude.
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