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Marketing South Africa is everybody's business

As South Africa celebrates its 10th year of freedom and democracy, the International Marketing Council (IMC) is proud to acknowledge the contribution to the success of South Africa made by all of the entities that market our nation.

Yvonne Johnston, CEO of the IMC, says, "We are very proud of the IMC's achievements during its initial three-year term. Huge strides have been made in establishing Brand South Africa locally and with commencing the roll out to international markets. Significant progress has also been made in aligning the numerous marketing and communications initiatives that promote South Africa. Many of our country's citizens, corporates and government organisations are now living the South African brand in thought, word and deed.

"The focus going forward will be on building on the solid foundation laid during the initial three years, ensuring that everyone speaks about South Africa with one voice to world, and on deepening and enhancing relationships with our stakeholders."

The IMC, in its annual report, summarises the following achievements in 2004:

  • Received an extension on its initial three year mandate from the President.

  • Published "The South African Story", a booklet filled with compelling and mind-opening facts, quotes and anecdotes that illustrate the extraordinary South African story and our current challenges.

  • Brought Dr Hischam El-Agamy, Director of Corporate Development for the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) to South Africa. Two functions were held at the JSE Securities Exchange during which the business community and media were made aware of South Africa's impressive but little known global competitiveness rankings.

  • Focused on building national pride and, to commemorate the country's 10 years of Freedom celebrations, launched its second advertising campaign, to encourage South Africans to "be part of the rhythm of this nation".

  • Embarked on an unprecedented mission to the United States which saw 40 South African business leaders engage 2500 dignitaries and business leaders in three cities during a five-day tour aimed at encouraging bilateral trade, investment and tourism.

  • Brought out six top thought leaders from the USA to gain first-hand experience of what South Africa and its people have to offer.

  • Sponsored Season South Africa, a New York-based project which is the umbrella title for a combined visual arts exhibition and performances of a number of theatre shows performed by the Dimpho Di Kopane lyric theatre company.

  • Launched a campaign that sees 10 branded London taxi cabs expose Londoners to compelling messages about South Africa.

  • Launched its first international print advertising campaign in Fortune and The Economist.

  • Entered country-branding partnerships with Brazil, India, China, Kenya, Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Uganda.

  • Celebrated the second birthday of www.safrica.info, South Africa's official web portal, and reached more than 1 million hits for the first time in August and repeated it in October. The portal was subsequently nominated as one of the Top 100 sites by Financial Mail.

  • Via the Central Resource Centre, monitored and analysed 291 142 articles about South Africa from 10 000 global media sources.

  • Conducted a lot of brand amplification work, which has resulted in a special reprint of The South African Story for SAA, the publication of Inspirational Women at Work, highly visible rooftops being painted with the Alive with Possibility logo, and much more.

  • Facilitated the alignment of the South African Tourism brand key with that of Brand South Africa and negotiated with the Department of Trade to ensure their brand key, currently under development, is also aligned.

  • Formed the Brand Conversion Team to assist the IMC with mobilising South Africans to support and understand the brand. The Team has completed more than 50 workshops with over 500 of SA's thought leaders, NGOs, businesses and ordinary South Africans.

    For more information on the International Marketing Council, please refer to www.imc.org.za. For more information on South Africa, visit the official web portal at www.southafrica.info.

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