Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Menpora RI), Dito Ariotedjo, voiced support for the development of esports for the advancement of the national sports industry. Speaking after witnessing the Grand Final of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL ID) Season 13 Playoffs at the Jakarta International Velodrome on Sunday afternoon, Menpora Dito highlighted the increasing popularity of esports in Indonesia, emphasizing the plethora of opportunities it offers for achieving success and fostering the creative sports industry in the country. He noted the rapid growth of esports within the Indonesian gaming industry and praised Indonesia's remarkable achievements in esports. Recognized as a sport due to its demand for speed, agility, and strategy, esports has been featured in national and international events such as the Asian Games 2018 and SEA Games 2019.
Menpora Dito underscored the Ministry of Youth and Sports' commitment to supporting esports within the national sports industry through various initiatives this year, including national-level training and competitions, in line with Presidential Regulation No. 19 of 2024 on Accelerating the Development of the National Gaming Industry. He expressed hope for an increase in the number of professional esports players and a growing audience, given the consistent popularity of esports among Indonesian youth. Menpora Dito extended congratulations and encouragement to the two Indonesian representative teams set to compete in the Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) in July in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He expressed optimism that they would bring home commendable achievements, setting a minimum target of reaching the semifinals.
