Thailand should take the lead as the "United States of Asean" and take advantage of the Kingdom's rich, religious culture as its selling points in branding itself ahead of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, said marketing guru Philip Kotler. "Thailand has a beautiful culture and is one of the major Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia. The country is religious-oriented and has a good harmony and principles of good living. These should be the selling points of Thailand," he said.

Mongolia is trying to increase the National Brand Index to at least inside the top 50 in the world. The two day "Mongolian Economic Forum" has opened today at the Parliament. Prime Minister Altankhyag has addressed the importance of increasing the brand image of Mongolia as they have not even achieved within the top 50 in the world.

Not too long ago, Brand India was riding high. Now, it is fast losing some of its sheen. The country has been beset with a series of scams and governance issues; foreign investors are plagued by uncertainties in taxation; and recently, the Central Statistical Office has pegged the country’s GDP growth for the current fiscal 2012-2013 at 5% — the lowest since 2002-2003. In fact, last year, credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) released a study titled, “Will India be the first BRIC fallen angel?”

The Fatima Jinnah Women University Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation in collaboration with the School of Leadership (SoL) has organised the second session of its nationwide campaign titled, ‘Shabash Pakistan’. Shabash Pakistan is a “nation-branding movement” started by the SoL.

The State Dept.’s public diplomacy corps will be glued to the TV on Oscar Night, rooting for the success of “The Bushkazi Boys” a 29-minute film that is nominated in the short film live action category.