There’s no typo in the title.
S$400,000 of good Singapore taxpayers’ money paid to global brand expert, Interbrand, in this exercise.
I can imagine the stunned facial expressions on the authority’s personnel when the ‘brand expert’ submitted their recommendation to them, together with a S$400,000 bill.
Then some poor fellow was ‘arrowed’ to write the official press release and minister’s speech on this ludicrous endeavour. The press went on to published the facts on 22 July 2005.
Is this money well spent? Well, plebeians like us don’t need to know.
Anyway, in response to much public upheaval, the authority wrote in the press on 28 July 2005 stressing that “place branding can help differentiate Singapore from other competitors.”
To which, insightfully reader, Mr Tony Tan Kok Tee, replied in the press on 30 July 2005 asking the authority and its team of ‘brand experts’ “how the generic name ‘Marina Bay’ can be distinctive when there are easily hundreds of marina bays around the world?”.
Should be good amusement to follow the development of this news.
Meanwhile, go be entertained by Mr Brown’s parody published in the press on 29 July 2005. And if you’re not offended by massive overuse of profanities, brace yourself for Rockson Takumi Tan’s blog entry on this.
And life goes on for Singaporeans.