Games Convention Asia 2007 was opened today by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre. In his address, he welcomed delegates and distinguished industry leaders from the global games community.

The inaugural Games Convention Asia´s arrival is timely as the global games industry is expected to grow to more than $55.6 billion US dollars by 2008. The Asia-Pacific online games market, last valued at $630 million in 2003, is projected to hit a staggering $7.5 billion in 2008.

More than 10,000 square meters of space was transformed into a high-energy world of computer games by 81 exhibitors from 13 countries, including major industry players Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Sony, Asiasoft, Nokia and more.

Games Convention Asia 2007 also witnessed the signing of the first-ever Memorandum of Intent (MOI) by the presidents of the national game associations from 10 countries in the Asia Pacific region. All the 10 countries have thriving games industries at varying states of development. The MOI marks the beginning of greater understanding and collaboration between the various national game associations, and the games industry in each country.