VICTORIA – British Columbia’s Trade and Investment
Representative Office in Korea will lead a delegation of B.C.-based new media
companies and organizations at G-Star 2008, Korea’s largest interactive gaming
show, announced Ida Chong, Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic
Development.
“British Columbia is home
to well over 100 leading-edge video gaming companies who design and produce
some of the world’s most acclaimed titles,” said Chong, also Minister
responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative. “Korea, and the entire Asia-Pacific,
has a massive and growing appetite for video games. This is why we are helping
B.C.-based gaming companies compete in these markets.”
The
Vancouver Film School, Donat Group Enterprises, Darim Vision, New Media BC and
Illuminated Productions will participate as exhibitors at British Columbia’s
G-Star pavilion. In addition, the Province’s Korea Trade and Investment Representative
Office will host a networking luncheon with business and trade leaders on Nov.
14, to coincide with the trade expo.
Korea’s
domestic game market in 2007 was worth 5.14 trillion won ($4.5 billion Cdn) and
a further $781 million (US)
worth of games were exported worldwide. British Columbia’s
gaming industry generates some $1.4 billion (Cdn) in revenue annually.
G-Star 2008
will be held at the Korea International Exhibition Centre (KINTEX) located in
Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do, British Columbia’s sister
province. Running from Nov. 13 to 16, the show is expected to attract
1,000 journalists, 2,000 industry buyers, 160,000 visitors and 160 industry
companies. G-Star 2008 is organized by the Korea Game Industry Agency and is
supported by the Gyeonggi-do Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Premier Gordon Campbell opened
B.C.’s Trade and Investment Representative Office in Korea in May. The office, located
in Seoul, assists B.C.-based companies connect
with potential Korean partners, promotes British
Columbia as an investment destination, encourages
collaboration in research and development and showcases B.C. products,
resources and services.
South
Korea is British
Columbia’s fourth-largest trading partner with
bilateral trade totalling almost $3 billion (Cdn) in 2007.
British
Columbia’s involvement at G-Star 2008 and the operation of the Korea trade and
investment office is part of the Province’s Asia-Pacific Initiative, a
long-term strategy to increase and diversify economic and cultural ties with
the Asia-Pacific. Information about the Asia-Pacific Initiative can be found at
the ministry’s website www.gov.bc.ca/tted.
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