YOUR ENVIRONMENT
You, the officials of diplomatic missions abroad will always have to work under an environment which is different from that at home. You may have to work with people having completely different behavioral pattern and manners with distinctly different cultural, religious, and economic background. The people of the host country generally have different customs, beliefs, habits, laws, morals, practices, attitudes, etc. One has to understand all about these matters and get adjusted with the situation so as to be able to effectively utilize the elements and dynamics therein to the advantage of our national interest, including export promotion. One of the keys to success is learning the language of the host country.
4.1 DIPLOMATIC PROTOCOL
As an official of diplomatic mission, you do have the fundamental training and orientation towards the basics of diplomatic protocols and practices, Nevertheless, reminding yourself to respect the established formalities and codes of behavior of the diplomatic community and follow them during the official and social occasions will also help you to be well absorbed into the business community. Like in diplomatic community it is important to follow the rules of precedence, courtesy and etiquette especially the rank and status, punctuality, proper dressing, arriving before and leaving after the head of the mission in a party, men being presented to women in course of introduction, presenting one's visiting card to persons one meets, etc.
4.2 OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
It is understood that you are one of the officials assigned by the head of your mission under the instruction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the responsibility of trade promotion and other trade related matters in your mission. You, as such an official shall have to work under the direct administrative supervision of the head of your mission. It is assumed that as an official responsible for trade promotion, you will receive adequate funds to carry out your responsibilities. It is also assumed that your environment will have the following features -
4.2.1 Staff
4.2.2 Transport and Communication
4.2.3 Filing System
4.2.4 Briefing/Debriefing
4.2.5 Training, seminars, conferences, etc.