Anchor: Samsung was found to be the world’s seventh most valuable company with its brand value estimated at 51-point-eight billion U.S. dollars. U.S.-based consultancy firm Interbrand ranked the South Korean firm in seventh place in its annual Best Global Brands report released on Wednesday. Samsung’s brand value is up 14 percent from last year and marked the first time to top 50 billion dollars. 
Our Bae Joo-yon has more.
 
Report: Samsung saw its brand value in 2016 surge nearly ten times compared to 2000 when it ranked 43rd in the world.
 
U.S.-based consultancy firm Interbrand gave Samsung the seventh highest ranking in its annual Best Global Brands report released on Wednesday. Samsung’s brand value is up 14 percent from last year and the placement marked the first time to top 50 billion dollars.
 
In 2003, Samsung’s brand value was estimated at ten billion dollars, in 2011 20 billion, in 2012 30 billion and in 2014 40 billion dollars.
 
Interbrand assessed that potential growth in performance and various consumer-oriented marketing activities for key items, including smartphones, TV and home appliances, led the rise in Samsung’s brand value.
 
The firm also evaluated that Samsung built an ecosystem that enabled more personal communication with consumers and provided easier use of its devices and services in everyday life.
 
Kim Moon-soo, executive vice president of Global Marketing Center at Samsung Electronics, said a company’s brand value rises with more competition and faster changes in the market. He said Samsung will continue mid- and long-term marketing efforts to become a differentiated brand for consumers.
 
In coming up with the world’s top 100 brands, Interbrand looks at the brand’s financial performance, the role it plays in influencing consumer choice and its competitiveness.
 
This year, the Best Global Brands report was unveiled at Samsung’s technology playground and cultural destination "Samsung 837” in New York.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.