SINGAPORE – Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has awarded five new media projects, worth S$7.6 million (US$5.1 million), to help propel local companies with new media services and businesses into the global market.

The five projects, selected from 26 proposals first called for in September 2008, range from development of games to media-rich learning, and is also expected to create 300 new jobs in the local media sector while helping generate some S$70 million in investment for the local media sector.

“Our support will help the companies scale up their international exposure significantly. These projects will in turn support some 200 companies to help build the new media ecosystem,” said Michael Yap (pictured), deputy CEO of the MDA.

Eric Berthier, CEO of Popular e-Learning Holdings, added: “Our initiatives will serve as the leading regional portals for Singapore’s education service providers, media owners and other media service providers. Our partners will have a ready reach to markets in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.”

“In light of the present economic climate, the funding from MDA will help defray some of the business risks associated with these new media initiatives and allow Popular to be more ambitious in our development and marketing regionally,” he added.

Tom Navasero, executive chairman of Glocal, said: “The presence of Glocal in Singapore will provide the new media industry the opportunity to find a marketplace for their content to be accessible to over 20 million viewers worldwide in key media markets such as United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, France and the Middle East.”

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