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Doing business & staying in touch

Businesspeople are expected to wear suits. It is advisable to make prior appointments and business cards are often used. Avoid business visits during Christmas and New Year, Easter week and July and August.

Office hours: 

Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1400-1800.

Economy: 

Luxembourg is one of the most prosperous countries in Western Europe. Two very different industries (banking and steel) have historically been the mainstays of the economy. The steel industry has ceased to be so dominant as other industries, notably chemicals, rubber, plastics, metal products and light manufacturing have prospered.

The banking and finance sector is also in a healthy condition: companies originally attracted to Luxembourg by favourable banking secrecy laws and low taxation have prospered despite the gradual harmonisation of taxes and tariffs across the EU. There is also a small but healthy agricultural sector mainly producing crops.

In 2006, growth was 6.2%, with inflation at 2.7% and unemployment was 4.1%. The Luxembourgeois economy has long been linked with that of Belgium, initially through the 1921 economic union, supplemented by a further treaty in 1958 and latterly, by mutual membership of the EU. Luxembourg was an inaugural adopter of the Euro at the beginning of 1999.
The location of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at the heart of the EU ensures its status as one of the most popular destinations for conferences and conventions in Western Europe.

GDP: 

US$34.5 billion (2006).

Main exports: 

Machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products and glass.

Main imports: 

Minerals, metals, food and quality consumer goods.

Main trading partners: 

Germany, Belgium, France, China and UK.

Staying in touch in Luxembourg

Telephone: 

International phones have a yellow sign showing a telephone dial with a receiver in the centre.

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent.

Internet: 

There are Internet cafes in Luxembourg City and most towns.

Post: 

Post to other European destinations takes two to four days.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1700. Smaller offices may open for only a few hours.

Media: 

Luxembourg has a long tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-European audiences, including those in France, Germany and the UK thanks to the Luxembourg-based media group RTL. Today, RTL's television and radio stations remain key players in media markets across Europe. The country is also home to Europe's largest satellite operator, Societé Européenne des Satellites (SES), which operates the Astra satellite fleet. Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution.

Press: 

• There are several daily newspapers including the Lëtzebuerger Journal, Luxemburger Wort and Tageblatt.
• 352 is a weekly publication in English.

Television: 

• RTL Tele Letzebuerg is RTL's domestic network.
• Nordliicht TV broadcasts in northern Luxembourg.

Radio: 

• RTL Radio Letzebuerg is RTL's domestic network.
• Den Neien Radio is a commercial network.
• Radio ARA has music and some English-language programmes.
• EldoRadio broadcasts pop music.
• Honnert,7 (100.7) is a public, cultural station.

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