Think London Chooses OSA/Strategy as Principal North American Representative

Contract Renewed for Eighth Consecutive Year

Washington, DC - January 21, 2005
For the eighth consecutive year, Think London, the official inward investment agency for London, awarded OSA/Strategy a contract extension to be the agency’s primary North American representative. Think London looks to OSA/Strategy’s market intelligence and extensive network of senior business executives to identify decision makers and connect businesses to London.

Think London – formerly London First Centre – also published research that for the first time demonstrates that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) generates $70 billion for London’s economy - nearly 25 percent of the capital’s total output. United States-based companies generated 45 percent of this total. Nearly one in seven jobs in London is directly attributed to FDI – a total of 516,000 jobs. Foreign-based businesses also are generally 60 percent more productive than domestic firms.

Think London helps to foster FDI by helping international businesses to set up and succeed in London, which is consistently voted Europe’s best city for business. Over the past ten years, international firms that have benefited from Think London’s free and confidential services have grown by 300 percent since establishing operations in the city.

“London is the key destination for the world’s most dynamic and forward-looking companies…Working with our partners, Think London shall ensure that London retains its position as an unrivalled destination for global business,” said Think London Chief Executive, Michael Charlton. “Our new brand reflects our commitment to this mission in this age of globalization.”

With offices in the Washington, DC metro area and Ottawa, Canada, OSA/Strategy connects Think London to the diverse and fast-growing businesses throughout North America.

“North America is London’s single most important source of FDI, and OSA/Strategy provides the market intelligence and high-level contacts necessary to exploit it,” said Think London’s Executive Director for North America, David Riches. “OSA/Strategy has a proven methodology and track-record of helping us to achieve our goals of attracting inward investment and creating jobs in order to ensure continued prosperity and economic vibrancy for London.”

“We look forward to continuing our successful and long-standing partnership with Think London,” Stephanie Gillard, Director of OSA/Strategy’s Economic Development Group commented. “We are pleased to be able to build on the systematic program of lead generation, special events, and inward visits that has proven so successful over the last seven years.”

For more information about Odell, Simms & Associates, Inc. economic development services, visit www.odellsimms.com or contact our office at econdev@odellsimms.com or 703-903-9797.

About Think London
Think London is the official inward investment agency for London. It provides free, confidential and comprehensive advice to help international businesses set up and succeed in London. Since 1994 it has helped over 750 companies from 35 countries locate or expand in the capital.

About OSA/Strategy
OSA/Strategy is a partnership between US based Odell, Simms & Associates, Inc. and Canada based JWP Strategy International Ltd. OSA/Strategy provides domestic and international economic development agencies with strategic marketing services, including investment promotion, business retention, and event management.