Re:The usual suggestions...Plus (Score 1)

I've been in similar situations. Here's my lessons learned that haven't already been posted:

• Have a current Passport and plan a travel budget so that one party or the other trades off coming to the other's home site, depending upon the nature of the work, at least once a month.
• Both parties must have an adjusted work day to accommodate the different time zones - get as much same time in office as possible.
• Since you're going to be on the phone daily, get a good overseas carrier and attempt to buy bulk rate time.
• Investigate satellite VTC with secure hookup because you don't want to worry about your business practices stolen. Buy time blocks and negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. (Don't use Internet VTC! I can listen in too easily. Remember, it's your company's intellectual property you're trying to protect.)
• Hire a person from the Military with C4SI to help you setup your project. (They're getting out of Uncle Sugar's service all the time.) Or hire a firm with these folks to be your security advisors.
• Use a virutal server (it should be transparent to the every day user where it's located) or replicate servers.
• Out of sight is out of mind. Visit, talk, talk, visit, talk, visit, etc.

Project/program management is tough enough without large distances and language barriers. Think outside the box, but be secure. Remember, step outside this country and people will be looking to kill you. Thus, my recommendation for a sound security plan.

After the above, running the project will be a piece of cake. 8-)

Good luck! Been there, done that, got the T-shirt & ball cap.

--Stork