INDIA- FACTS AND FIGURES

For more information try these sites:
India Online
Indolink

Area: 3, 287, 263 km2

Population: 937 million (1995 estimate)

Population Growth: 1.8% (1995 estimate)

Capital: New Delhi

Official Name: Republic of India

System of Government: Federal Republic

Head of State: President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma

Prime Minister: H. D. Deve Gowda

Key Government Ministers: Palaniappan Chidambaram, Minister of Finance and Company Affairs; Mulayam Singh Yadav, Minister of Defense; Inder Kumar Gujral, Minister of External Affairs

Languages: Hindi is the most widely used of 17 official languages. English is used in international business and government

Literacy Rate: 49%

Religion: The population of India is 83% Hindu, 11% Muslim, and 2.6% Christian. Other religions include Sikh, Hain, Buddhist and Parsi.

Currency: C$ 1.00 = 25.9 Rupees (average, week ending September 27, 1996)

Things to remember when doing business in India...

• Do not call people by their first names. Use titles like Doctor or Officer.
  
  
• Handshakes are not very common. A slight bow is more common. Ladies, do not offer to shake hands with an Indian man. If he doesn't offer, just smile. It will do the job!
  
  
• Do not be in a rush. Be prepared for more than one very long meeting.
  
  
• Be friendly. Feel free to talk about your personal life. This is expected before starting with the business chats.
  
  
• The head is considered very sensitive, so don't touch it! Easy enough? The feet are considered to be unclean..the nice way of saying dirty! If your feet or shoes touch someone, apologize and you'll be okay!
  
  
• Cows are very sacred to Hindus. They do not eat beef. Muslims do not eat pork or drink alcohol... hint: do not bring a bottle of wine for dinner!
  
  
• If invited to someone's house for a business meal, take your shoes off. Presents are always good, but, if you're going to wrap them, stay away from white and black..these are considered unlucky.

Some of this information was taken from the Information Series published by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. It is available in print format.