The 5th edition of the Nation Brand Forum couldn’t have come at a critical time as the country takes a concerning dip in global competitiveness, according to the 2021 World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) ranking.
As per the report, South Africa ranks 62 out of 64 countries in 2021, from 59th out of 63 the year before and 56th in 2019. With Covid-19 continuing to add more strain to an already critical economy, it goes without saying that South Africa needs pll out all the stops and look at ways to push the economic reconstruction and recovery plan.
Hence the 5th installment of the Nation Brand Forum, a collaboration between the Minister in the Presidency and Brand South Africa, which brings together a wide range of stakeholders to chart the way forward to realise the goals of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP), with the objective to revive and revitalise the South African economy post the COVID-19 pandemic.
The forum, to be hosted under the theme ‘Believe in South Africa: Reflect, Rebuild, and Reassure’ will be held on the Tuesday, September 28 as a hybrid event with speakers and limited audience at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, and will be streamed live globally.
This year’s edition will put emphasis on the importance of collaborative efforts to boost investment, trade and tourism for South Africa. This would be in line with ERRp’s scope of objectives, which includes creating jobs through infrastructure development, and focusing on strengthening SMMMEs and large businesses.
High-level panel confirmed – 5th Nation Brand Forum
In addition to the host and executive authority of Brand South Africa, a high-level panel has been to put together to chart a way forward on how to accomplish some of this year’s goals. It includes former deputy finance minister Mondli Gungubele (Minister in the Presidency), General Secretary of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Wamkele Mene, world acclaimed British policy advisor Simon Anholt, newly elected President of Business Unity if South Africa Bonang Mohale and Discovery Health CEO Ryan Noach.
“We have convened this year’s Nation Brand Forum to collectively and constructively reflect on the challenges facing our country and to reassure investors and all stakeholders that South Africa has appropriate and robust policies to re-build a resilient and inclusive economy and that it remains an attractive destination for investment, trade and tourism,” said Sithembile Ntombela, Brand South Africa’s ccting CEO.
The Forum is now open for registration at https://www.vcrsvp.co.za/NationBrandForumMain2021/register-v.aspx.
For more information on the Nation Brand Forum 2021 edition, visit www.brandsouthafrica.com.
*For more courageous stories from our gallery on what South African corporates and the government are doing to empower local communities, visit the NOWinSA/EmpowerSA page regularly!
