Nexters is taking part in the Dubai government’s game industry development policy to support global distribution and publishing for local game developers.

Nexters said on Thursday it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dubai Media Council (DMC), a Dubai government agency, on game industry development and global business cooperation.

Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate on global distribution and publishing of games developed in Dubai, building in-game economic systems, fostering local game studios and talent, identifying game-industry investment opportunities, and advisory work by South Korean game industry experts.

Nexters plans to use the global game distribution platform and publishing network of its subsidiary OneStore to support Dubai game developers’ expansion overseas. It will also pursue technical cooperation to build payment and economic systems within games.

The cooperation will be carried out in connection with Dubai’s game industry development program, the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33). DPG33 aims to develop Dubai into one of the world’s top 10 game industry cities by 2033 and create 30,000 new jobs in the game industry. It targets about $1 billion in gross domestic product contribution.

The DMC is a government agency responsible for Dubai’s media industry policy and regulations. Its Dubai Film and Games Commission (DFGC) supports the development of the film and game industries, talent development and investment attraction.

At the signing ceremony, Nexters CEO Jang Hyun-kuk (장현국) and Nexters advisers Song Jae-kyung (송재경) and Seo Min (서민) were appointed as advisers to the Dubai government on the game industry. They are expected to take part in advisory work on the mid- to long-term development direction of Dubai’s game industry and global business.

Nexters previously signed a partnership with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) in October last year. It is currently promoting a game studio development and global publishing program with the DMCC Gaming Centre, centred on its local unit, Nexters Hub.

"We will connect the game industries of South Korea and Dubai by combining OneStore’s global distribution network with Nexters’ publishing and game economy infrastructure, and support local game developers in opening global sales channels," Jang said.