A synergistic community is evolving in Fusionopolis, which the Media Development Authority and two media companies - the Asian Food Channel (AFC) and Ubisoft Singapore - are calling home.

AFC is the region's only 24-hour cable TV food channel that started from Singapore, with its headquarters here. AFC moved to its present bigger premises in Fusionopolis in early March. It was the first tenant to move into the building.

Mr Hian Goh, managing director of AFC says: 'We wanted to create a fully integrated operational office that spans shooting, editing, and preparation for transmission that is competitive and at a cost-advantage, and we chose to be here at Fusionopolis to be with like-minded companies where a community is created.'

AFC offers Asian and international food programmes such as Hell's Kitchen, The Naked Chef, Chef in Black and Just Desserts.

Ms Maria Brown, managing director, acquisitions and programming, AFC, says: 'AFC started in Singapore as a two-person team - Hian and myself. We are foodies at heart and AFC plugged a hole in the Asian market for a food channel, which was never available before.

'Singapore has an excellent infrastructure from registering a business to industry support and production, and we are in a unique place to achieve this dream. AFC was launched in mid 2005, but Singapore's rapid pace of development has allowed us to grow likewise.'

Another company which has set up office in Fusionopolis is Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video games publisher. This is Ubisoft's 18th development studio. Mr Olivier de Rotalier, managing director of Ubisoft Singapore, cites reasons such as Singapore's excellent technological infrastructure, a thriving local game development industry and the quality of its universities and training institutions, for the company's presence here.

'We have 28 employees and we hope to recruit up to 300 people in the next four to five years. The first year will be spent on training and recruiting the right people for the Ubisoft Singapore's office,' he says.

Ubisoft Singapore will also work closely with the local universities and schools to develop talent for the video games industry.

'We will propose internships for training, with the aim of recruiting those who are well-trained in the appropriate curriculum,' Mr de Rotalier says.

'We are in the region where Ubisoft Singapore is new, and that presents an opportunity for us to learn more about the market in Asia.'

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