OTTAWA - A prominent Japanese gaming firm is setting up operations in B.C., Trade Minister Ed Fast announced Thursday.

gumi Inc., established in 2007 and with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, is described in a government news release as a “top developer and operator of mobile online games and has distributed more than 40 titles on various platforms.”

The studio will be located within Burnaby’s Metrotown Tower, focusing on the development of mobile games for the North American market.

The company is issuing a news release Thursday crediting Fast and B.C. Trade Minister Teresa Wat for encouraging the move to B.C.

“With a history in game development and close proximity to gumi America's U.S. studio in Austin and publishing arm in San Francisco, Vancouver is an ideal location for gumi to expand development of its industry-leading mobile game titles.”

gumi’s games include Brave Frontier, which has “received top reviews and achieved top sales rankings,” the company said in a news release earlier this year announcing a joint distribution agreement with SEGA Networks.

The move to B.C. will create 20 jobs in a province with “the highest number of interactive game companies in Canada,” according to Fast.

The company said it is planning to create a “world class game studio” in Burnaby and will seek “the very best local talent from both mobile and console game development” sectors.

The announcement was made in connection with a Canadian trade mission Fast is leading to Japan next week. The minister is about to announce the commencement of a new round of negotiations aimed at striking a Canada-Japan trade and investment agreement.

The MP for Abbotsford credited Canadian government trade officials for encouraging gumi to make the Vancouver move.

“The North American market is a key territory for our organization, and Canada provides incredibly valuable resources and tools for companies like ours to succeed,” gumi executive A.J. Redmer said in the federal government news release.

Click here to report a typo or visit vancouversun.com/typo.