In order successful in branding, it is very important to create positive image. This positive image will influence how people or other countries perceive Indonesia. Even though a perception does not automatically represent the fact, but at certain level it is known as a reality.

Therefor, Indonesia must represent itself as a mature and civilized nation regardless how young herself or how young her branding stategy is. It is true that Indonesia just declared its independence 63 years ago, however it does not mean Indonesia has alway to act like a new nation that still seeks for its identity. Will other countries say to Indonesia, “It’s OK for Indonesia to the things that like uncivilized people did in the medieval period since Indonesia is a new born baby.” No, they will not say that.

South Korea who had independence day just one day different compared to Indonesia has left Indonesia far behind. Japan that was destroyed by USA in world war II, now leads technology invention in Asia and even in the world. We do not want to use “new born baby” as an excuse for us to justify our poor judgments and actions.

Many Indonesian government officials and people do not have the sense or urgency. This happens because they do not see any treat on our nation. If they have clear visions, they will be able to tell how danger Indonesia position and situation these days. They have to realize, if they do not act now, these treats will diminish and finally eliminate the existence of Indonesia.

The government must lay the vision, educate and train civil servants and public sectors, collaborate with the private sectors; privide funding and infrastructure and framework.Seek public support and involvement to ensure the message and vision is being adopted at all levels.

The nation needs a professional and independent framework that is collaborative and institutional with well placed guidelines. The key lies in having a non-politically driven and sustainable agenda that can be fully implemented over the agreed period of time regardless of who is in power on the day.

It won’t be easy but it’s not impossible. It starts from the leadership! And it all goes back to your points about the ’state of the nation’and about people’s ‘private interests and agendas’. And we are back in full circle!

Pada dasarnya, slogan “ultimate in diversity” justru lebih mendalam makna yang tersirat, selain itu juga sebagai simbol kebanggaan bangsa Indonesia yg memiliki ragam budaya, ras, agama, dan suku yang bernaung dalam suatu sistem yang coherent dan ber-civilized. Inilah yg harus kita tunjukkan kepada bangsa lain di dunia. Bukannya kita ikut-ikutan negara tetangga kita: koar-koar kampanye besar-besaran tourism yang berujung pada kebohongan publik.

Gw akuin masih banyak yang perlu dipelajari oleh pemerintah kita dlm menggalakkan national branding. Tetapi tetaplah tidak adil untuk membandingkan Indonesia dengan negara lain. Indonesia masih tergolong newborn baby dalam national branding. Seharusnya didukung, eh kok malah dipijak-pijak martabatnya.

Branding mengandung kejujuran dimana batasan kita mampu menyampaikan pesan secara jelas dan transparan.
“Branding isn’t about the final result. It is the process that make it worth.”

Just my two cents….harap maklum bila ada yg tersinggung.

sempet baca satu artikel, katanya visit indonesian 2008 campaign dengan tema utama The Ultimate in Diversity itu mo nyaingin campaignnya malaysia yg Truly Asia itu.

tapi pas liat logo Truly Asia, terus terang jauuuuuhhhhhh lebih mantap daripada yg Ultimate in Diversity.

duh, padahal setau saya, di indo itu banyak sekali orang-orang yg sangat hebat dalam hal design.

tapi yah, seperti kata Ikiu, penghargaan kepada mereka-mereka yg punya talenta dan niat baik untuk kemajuan Indonesia masih belon didukung sepenuhnya.

Adhi, good point. Instead of prioritizing reformation as a whole that is very wide and complicated, I think it is more effective to reinforce our law system first, just like what you said.