Doing Business in Europe vs. Asia: Key Differences

The 5 Key Differences

Expanding internationally? Success depends on understanding regional business culture. Europe and Asia offer huge opportunities — but their ways of doing business differ significantly.

1. Culture & Relationships

2. Communication

3. Decision-Making

4. Regulations

5. Negotiations

My experience so far doing business in Thailand as a Dutch person

Speaking from experience, growing up in the Netherlands taught me to appreciate directness and efficiency — say what you mean and get to the point. But doing business in Thailand has been a humbling lesson in reading between the lines. It’s a much more indirect culture, where people rarely say "no" outright — silence or disappearing from the conversation often is the answer. I’ve learned that building genuine relationships comes first, and trust is often developed outside the meeting room. In fact, sharing a drink together can open more doors than a formal coffee ever could. Understanding these cultural subtleties has made me much more effective — and patient — in cross-cultural business.

So.. Who wants to get drunk with me?