(NC)–Business travel is a way of life for many exporters. It can be an excellent way to cultivate relationships with clients and prospective clients. Here are some tips for maximizing the effectiveness of your travel before you leave home:

Make your health a priority: different food, water and climate can all wreak havoc on your health. Find out in advance what conditions you are likely to encounter during your travels and prepare accordingly.

Study the culture and business customs. Ignorance is not an excuse when you are conducting business in unfamiliar territory. It is a surefire way to damage your firm's credibility and undermine your export goals.

Understand the currency exchanges. While this is helpful when you are paying for a meal or a taxi, it is critical if you are speaking of transaction costs for your products and services. Understanding the use of credit cards and cheques in a foreign market is also valuable.

Prepare for technological differences. Can you plug your computer into the electrical outlet? Is the computer application you are trying to sell compatible with the level of operating system and processing power commonly found in the target market?

This information is drawn from Planning a Business Trip Abroad. Find this Team Canada Inc guide online at exportsource.ca/trip or speak to an Export Information specialist by calling toll-free 1 888 811-1119.

- News Canada
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News Canada