The Gulf Today quotes CPD Director, Philip Seib, about India's struggle with creating a comprehensive public diplomacy strategy.

The newest issue of Focus on the Economy and Technology, a magazine created for key audiences in Finland’s major export markets, presents the country’s strong points to the world in articles about water expertise, education, energy, design and more. The same central themes were emphasised in Finland’s country brand report in November.

There has been a lot of debate about the City Gate project by architect Renzo Piano. Will it disturb the historic majesty of Valletta or will it, like the futuristic pyramid of I.M. Pei at the Louvre in Paris, become an iconic monument for the city − a 21st century brand beacon?

I had breakfast this week with one of my heroes, Saul Singer, who, along with Dan Senor, authored the best selling book on Israel's entrepreneurial culture, StartUp Nation. Saul and Dan single-handedly (or, shall I say, two-handedly) changed Israel's branding globally, framing Israel as a unique, fertile environment for entrepreneurship and breakthrough cross-disciplinary discoveries.

The Welsh brand must be reinvigorated to tackle negative perceptions of the country, Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones told business leaders in London last night. The Assembly Government’s office in London will be overhauled as part of an effort to banish damaging stereotypes and the search is on for a follow- up event to last year’s Ryder Cup.

What started as international elections and campaigning work soon branched out into providing more foreign governments, leaders and bodies, such as tourism and investment authorities, with international communications counsel and ultimately what is now known as "country branding."

Giving a twist to the much-touted race between the Indian elephant versus the Chinese dragon, an eminent expert on 'nations branding' says although China's economy may be far bigger and its military superior, Brand India may just win the game as the world identifies with its values of plurality, diversity and tolerance.