Mumbai is pretty easygoing, so go with the flow

If you’re an international businessman visiting the commercial capital, try a pinch of salt with these latest business traveller tips from The Economist.

Mumbai is the first Indian city to join the online City Guide series which promises to help you ‘‘decipher the business codes of Indian colleagues, with honest insider tips’’.

So now you know why you should carry plenty of business cards (it’s rude to run out), not swim at Chowpatty beach (not clean enough) seal a deal during Diwali (it’s auspicious, and don’t forget the box of sweets).

Five months of research, apart from suggestions that came from conversations with businessmen that date back to several years and several tips later, the guide leaves ample room for updates.

Ask old India hand and British investment banker Andrew Holland.

‘‘When I just moved here in ’97, a lot of people used to be late for meetings and it wasn’t just traffic,’’ says DSP Merill Lynch’s executive vice president. ‘‘That’s improved a lot. People are on time now’’.

Half-English, half-Kiwi Simon Hayward also took a while getting used to official meetings, since most juniors would wait for the seniors to speak or not speak at all.

‘‘Also, senior is a very commonly used word here,’’ says the executive creative director of advertising agency FCB-ULKA, ‘‘It usually just means older.’’

And here’s something important about doing business, desi style, that didn’t make it to the guide.

Marc Bourdon, shipping company CMA-CGM’s onus representative in India has finally adopted an OK-you-have-to-deal-with-it attitude when someone mentions corruption.

‘‘There are many unsaid things and last minute surprises,’’ says the 38-year-old French businessman, ‘‘When there’s this big buzz about needing investors in India, bribing someone to get things done is a deterrent.’’

Besides, Bourdon believes that old habits die hard in Mumbai. ‘‘There’s such reluctance when you offer better solutions to customers who prefer not to change their old way of dealings,’’ he adds.

It just sounds like the Mohammad Rafi-Geeta Dutt classic has come full circle. It’s all been said before in the ’50s if you please. Zara hatke, zara bachke, yeh hai Bombay meri jaan.