stakeholders

Africa's most valuable nation brand, South Africa, continues to search its soul and look towards enhancing its international reputation and increasing its brand equity as it aims to stay relevant and strong in the current competitive economic environment, where only nations with a strong dose of credibility and competitiveness can survive. Brand SA stakeholders hosted a summit today, Tuesday, 31 May 2011, in Johannesburg to relook at strategies aiming at moving the country forward.

The International Marketing Council of South Africa has called on ordinary South Africans to help SA compete globally by building the country's image and brand, and do their bit to put an end to misconceptions about the country at home and abroad.

Branding South Africa is not a matter of choice but a necessity that requires "the concerted effort" of business, government and civil society in order to succeed, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Dina Pule told an International Marketing Council of SA summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

India's Suzlon Energy has signed a deal with African Clean Energy Developments for the supply and construction of up to 200 wind turbines for the Cookhouse Wind Energy Facility in the Eastern Cape, for an undisclosed sum.

The appointment of the new International Monetary Fund managing director should be done through an open, transparent and merit-based process, the South African and Australian governments have said in a joint statement.

A developing farmer project in Taung in the Northern Cape province has done the country proud by receiving top honours at the first Africa Investor Agribusiness Investment Awards, held recently in KwaZulu-Natal.

Protecting investors and access to credit underpin a consistent performance rating as efforts to build South Africa’s competitive reputation continue to gain momentum.

South Africa's Woolworths was named Responsible Retailer of the Year at the 2010 World Retail Awards - the second time in the past three years that the local company has scooped the prestigious award.

South African state company Eskom is to approach the US bond market in a bid to raise funds for its capital expansion programme which includes two coal-fired base-load power stations and a pumped storage scheme.

During the Rhino Summit held in Pretoria in early October, Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica reiterated her department’s commitment to bringing poachers to book. Read her keynote speech.
• Wildlife poachers to be taken down