Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance Sells Toronto Region as the Gaming Hotbed of Ontario

Toronto-Ontario, March 15, 2010 - The largest gaming development conference in North America with leading animation developers and designers was the backdrop to the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance's recent business sales trip.  The 5-day business mission focused on targeting U.S. studios and video game developers and selling them on Greater Toronto Area's value proposition for investing in our region.
 
As part of the Ontario Technology Corridor initiative, the GTMA partnered with the communities of Ottawa, London, Kitchener-Waterloo and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade in a series of face-to-face meetings with investors expressing strong interest in expanding and/or relocating to the Ontario.
 
"We're continuing to build on the success of Ubisoft." said Gerald Pisarzowski, Vice President, Business Development, Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance  " As the lead marketing agency for the Greater Toronto Area, the GTMA was proud to be part of a collaborative effort in securing Ubisoft's recent decision to locate a major studio in the GTA. It's evidence of Ontario's desirability for gaming companies, a region that is deep in talent, with a strong and stable economy, and targeted incentives. This is the message we have taken to investors in California." added Mr. Pisarzowski.
 
This Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) attraction mission included meetings with animation and special effects companies in Los Angeles. The mission delegates then travelled to San Francisco to the Game Developers Conference where prequalified meetings were  arranged with global companies in the digital media sector that are seeking opportunities to expand their operations.
 
In promoting the strengths of the respective communities of the OTC, the GTMA is well positioned to build on the growing list of premier developers/publishers who have invested in the regions, including Capcom Entertainment and Koei, including home grown companies like Digital Extremes, Artech Studios, Magmic Games, XYZ RGB, Christie Digital and Dalsa.
 
Over the past six years nearly every film nominated for a special effects Oscar has used Ontario-developed technology.
 
On the success of the California mission, the GTMA readies for a planned assault on the European gaming industry in August 2010 with the focus on our continuing goal to sell the Greater Toronto Area's investment opportunities and build on the new possibilities of our collaboration under OTC.
 
 
About the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance
The GTMA is a public-private partnership between the 29 municipalities and regions in the GTA, together with the Provincial and Federal governments, other non-profit organizations and a broad cross section of private sector corporations.
 
The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA) is the lead marketing agency for the GTA and  key point of contact for international investors exploring business opportunities in the GTA.  With the resources of its public and private sector partners, the GTMA provides essential business information and site selection services to facilitate investment in the Greater Toronto Area
 
To learn more about the GTMA visit www.greatertoronto.org
 
About the Ontario Technology Corridor
Employing nearly 272, 000 people among 6,700 companies, the OTC includes the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa Region, Waterloo Region, City of London and the Niagara Region. The OTC also welcomes in partnership the Province of Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade as well as the federal government's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

The OTC offers a highly educated work force, excellent growth opportunities, a low-risk business environment, and generous R&D tax credits that are the envy of other countries. The OTC is supported by the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA), OCRI, Canada's Technology Triangle Inc, the London Economic Development Corporation and the Niagara Economic Development Corporation. For more information visit www.ontariotechnologycorridor.com.  
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Media Contact:
 
Tony Romano
Director, Corporate Affairs
Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance
 
Tel:         416-360-5758
E-mail:   tromano@greatertoronto.org