South Africa was named Africa’s most valued African brand at the fourth BrandFinance Global Nation Brands league at the JSE on Wednesday.
This showed the country’s progress and recognised its hosting of the Soccer World Cup and its acceptance into the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) group of nations, said International Marketing Council chairperson Anitha Soni.
It was also recognition of South Africa as an important emerging country in its own right.
The awards, which were presented by Brand Africa in collaboration with Brand Finance (UK), look at the financial worth of a nation’s brand, considering its past and present financial position, and the strength of the nation’s brand.
Soni said South Africa had shown the world it could organise and present a global event like the World Cup, and that BRICS was a platform for promoting economic growth throughout Africa.
The league adjudicated the brands of 138 nations, including 36 African nations.
The top 10 countries in Africa were South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Angola, Tunisia, Ghana, Kenya and Libya
MTN was adjudged the Top African Corporate Brand, followed by Standard Bank, ABSA, FNB and the Nedbank Group. — Sapa