Argentina Business Guide

Compiled by:

Swiss Argentine Chamber of Commerce

Buenos Aires, Mar 2018

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Swiss citizens travelling to Argentina with a valid passport do not require an entry visa. On a tourist visa they are allowed to stay for 90 days, and can be extended to 180 days.

LANGUAGES USED FOR BUSINESS

Spanish is the official language. English is the foreign language most readily understood by the business community.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

January 1st (New Year´s Day) March 24th (National Day in Memory of Truth and Justice) March/April (Easter: Thursday and Good Friday) April 2nd (Malvinas Islands Commemoration) May 1st (Labor Day) May 25th (Anniversary of the May Revolution) June 20th (Flag Day) July 9th (Independence Day) August 17th (Anniversary of Death of Libertador General José de San Martin) – Holiday moves to the 3rd Monday of the month.

Switzerland Global Enterprise – Business Guide 1/7 October 12th (Columbus Day) – Holiday moves to previous or next Monday December 8th (Day of the Virgin Mary) December 25th (Christmas)

HEALTH AND INOCULATIONS

Website of the World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/countries/arg/en/ No vaccination requirements for international travelers.

TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND ARGENTINA

Argentine official time is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The 24-hour system is generally used in preference to the 12-hour a.m. and p.m. system.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

220 Volts, 50 cycles, AC

METHODS OF PAYMENT

The Peso (ARS, $) is the national currency. There are $1000, $ 500, $ 200, $ 100, $ 50, $ 20, $ 10 $ 5 and $ 2 bills and $ 2 peso coins, $ 1 peso coins, 0.50 cents, 0.25 cents Payments, can be made in cash, with bank cheques, bank transfer or credit cards. For security reasons it is recommended to travel with USD Traveler’s Cheques, which can be exchanged at Exchange Agencies. Automated Teller Machines are called Cajeros Automáticos. If you plan to use this system, you might want to check with your credit card company as to the location of the ATMs in both Buenos Aires and the cities where you plan to stay.

Exchange rate Visit following website: http://www.oanda.com

Tipping is neither widespread nor expensive in Argentina. In taxis, stand practice is to round the fare up to the nearest peso to serve as the tip. In restaurants, waiters are usually tipped by 10 percent.

TRANSPORTATION

BY AIR

Switzerland Global Enterprise – Business Guide 2/7 The international airport in the Buenos Aires area, known as Ezeiza, is officially called Ministro Pistarini. Some flights from neighboring countries land on Jorge Newberry Airport, in the City of Buenos Aires. In 2018 the line called Flybondi started operating in Palomar. Argentina's leading low-cost airline, operating cabotage and regional flights.

Domestic flights are operated by the following airlines:

 Aerolíneas Argentinas: www.aerolineas.com.ar  Andes: www.andesonline.com  Lan: www.lan.com  LADE: www.lade.com.ar  Fly Bondi: https://www.flybondi.com/

Manuel Tienda León www.tiendaleon.com.ar (Terminal Madero - Av. Madero 1299 – Retiro - Tel. 4314-3636) offers a bus service every half hour from 05.00 hs. to 21 hs. The length of the trip is approximately one hour. You can also travel by remise (rented car with chauffeur).

BY ROAD

Buenos Aires offers three forms of public transportation: colectivo (bus), Tren (Train) and the subte (subway). There are remises (rented car with chauffeur) which you can call and arrange the fare depending on the distance of the trip. Bus stops are marked with a post numbered in the sidewalk. You need to flag down the bus you wish to take. Be sure to have the “SUBE” card for public transport (www.sube.gob.ar) or coins at hand.

Taxis Taxis can be hailed on the street in the City of Buenos Aires. Radio-Taxis are not much more expensive than the standard taxis and offer added security. They can also be reserved in advance, at which time they can tell you what the fare will be.

Car Rental  Ai Rent a Car International (Av. Santa Fe 5376, Tel. 4777-4487 / +5411 4776-8518)  Alamo Rent a Car - National (Tel. 4811-9993)  Avis Rent a Car (0810 9991 2847)  Budget Rent a Car (Tel. 0810 999 2834)  Dollar Rent a Car (M.T. de Alvear 449, Tel. 4315-8800 / 1669)  Hertz - Annie Millet Rent a Car (Paraguay 1138, Tel. 4816-8001)  Localiza Rent a Car (Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1180, 2°, Of. 205 “C”, Tel. 4121-5600).

Switzerland Global Enterprise – Business Guide 3/7 HOTELS

Visit following website: http://www.turismo.gov.ar

COMMUNICATION

The country code for Argentina is +54 (city code + telephone number). The country code for Switzerland is +41 (city code + telephone number).

How to call a cell phone from Argentina from abroad

After dialing your number for outside calls (usually 00), then dial:

54 (= country code Argentina)

+ 9 (= is a cell phone)

+ 11 (if Buenos Aires, other area codes see list *)

+ Cell phone number (without the "15", only applies for domestic calls)

* Area Codes / Provinces: www.paginasblancas.com.ar

Telephone Directory Visit following website: http://www.paginasamarillas.com.ar

CELL PHONES

There are five Cell Phone Companies: 1. Claro 2. Movistar 3. Personal 4. Nextel 5. Tuenti

BUSINESS HOURS

Offices Monday to Friday 09:00 hs. – 18 hs. Shops Monday to Saturday 10:00 hs. – 20:00 hs.

Switzerland Global Enterprise – Business Guide 4/7 Shopping Centers Monday to Sunday 10:00 hs. – 21 hs. Banks Monday to Friday 10:00 hs. – 15 hs.

There are Automated Teller Machines (ATM’s) in most banks, shopping centers and some supermarkets.

ADDRESS OF THE ARGENTINE EMBASSY IN IN SWITZERLAND

Embajada de la República Argentina en Suiza Embajador Antonio Trombetta Jungfraustrasse 1 3005 Bern Tel. +41 31 3564343 To carry out any consular procedure, arrange an appointment by phone: 031 3564343

ADDRESS OF THE SWISS EMBASSY AND CONSULATES

Embajada de Suiza Embajador Hans-Peter Mock Av. Santa Fe 846, 12º C1059ABP Buenos Aires Tel. +54 11 4311 6491 Fax: +54 11 4313 2998 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.eda.admin.ch/buenosaires

Consulado de Suiza en Córdoba Cónsul Honorario Ricardo J. Rysler Avda. Colón 184, 1°, Esc. 6 X5000EPO Córdoba / Córdoba Tel.: +54 35 1423 21 76 Fax: +54 35 1423 2176 E-Mail: [email protected]

Consulado de Suiza en Mendoza Cónsul Honorario Raymond Schefer 9 de Julio 1140, 3° 1 5500 Mendoza / Mendoza Tel.: +54 261 425 6766 E-mail: [email protected]

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Consulado de Suiza en Rosario Cónsul Honorario Paul Josef Berni Balcarce 225 2000 Rosario / Santa Fe Argentine Tel.: 0341- 4250193 E-Mail: [email protected]

Consulado de Suiza en Ruiz de Montoya Cónsul Honoraria Maya Schweri Instituto Línea Cuchilla 3334 Ruiz de Montoya / Misiones Tel.: +54 3743 495 015 Fax: +54 3743 495 076 E-mail: [email protected]

Consulado de Suiza en Ushuaia Cónsul Honorario Danilo Clément Gobernador Godoy 186 – 3° C 9410 Ushuaia / Tierra del Fuego Phone +54(0)2901 15 518075 [email protected] www.eda.admin.ch/ccrsudamerica

TIPS FOR INITIATING BUSINESS CONTACTS

Planning your trip

The best time of year for a business trip is from March to December. The Argentine Summer months are best avoided as many people are on holidays. The same applies to mid-July, when many businessmen take their winter holidays.

Dress Code

In cities people tend to dress quite formally for work: gentlemen wear suit and tie; ladies wear formal clothes.

BUSINESS PRACTICES

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The best way to find a suitable business contact is through a chamber or industrial association. Appointments must always be made in advance of the meeting, and being on time is important. The business day usually begins by 9 a.m. Personal impressions and relationships are a critical part of every business deal and manners and politeness are extremely important. Men greet each other with a handshake and women with a kiss on the cheek. Meetings generally start with informal small talk, and eye contact is important.

Business is generally conducted in a relatively formal fashion, although forms of address have become more relaxed, and the use of first names is a spreading practice. Argentine people tend to use the informal "tu" as opposed to the more formal "usted". In a formal business meeting people are addressed with their professional title (e.g.: "Doctor", "Ingeniero", "Licenciado").

Business entertainment often involves formal social events such as cocktail parties, presentations of products and press conferences. At business meetings and receptions it is expected to exchange business cards.

When invited to a private home, one is expected to take flowers or chocolates for the host's spouse. Although the host may propose a toast, this should not be expected as it is not a tradition in Argentina.

Date: 20th Mar 2017 Author: Erica Palomeque Author’s address: [email protected] Swiss Argentine Chamber of Commerce Av. L.N. Alem 1074, 10º C1001AAS Buenos Aires - Argentina Tel: +54 11 4311 7187

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