Ministry, US Embassy step up collaboration in gaming industry

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya has invited the United States Embassy in Jakarta to facilitate greater collaboration between creative economy players from both countries, particularly in the gaming industry.

"We hope the US Embassy can bring more creative economy players and subsectors from the United States to collaborate and share experiences in Indonesia," Harsya said in a statement released by the embassy here on Saturday.

He noted that this enhanced cooperation could be implemented by establishing American Corners in creative hubs across Indonesia in the future.

"With this collaboration, we believe it will be easier for us to activate and optimize the functions of these creative spaces," the minister continued.

Harsya emphasized that the ministry views esports as a rapidly growing sector that is increasingly driving the creative economy. Consequently, the ministry is backing the American Spaces Indonesia Esports Development (ASIED) initiative, a program spearheaded by the US Embassy.

"Today, esports has become an integral part of Indonesia's creative economy. It is not just about the athletes; it includes casters, content creators, coaches, event organizers, and many other creative professions growing together within a single ecosystem," he said, according to the ministry's official statement.

Developing human resources in the gaming subsector, Harsya added, aligns perfectly with the ministry's ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation's broader creative economy ecosystem.

Through collaborations with various partners, the ministry continues to expand access to learning spaces, workspaces, and creative hubs for youth in various regions. This initiative aims to prepare a larger pool of creative talent to enter the national gaming industry.

"Therefore, we are ready to continue this collaboration so that more young Indonesian talent can gain opportunities to grow," he stated.

The ASIED initiative is a development program targeting young Indonesian digital talent. It utilizes esports as a medium for capacity building, offering workshops on competition management, broadcasting, league operations, graphic design, content creation, and match commentary.

The national program ran for over seven months across seven Indonesian cities: Padang, Pontianak, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Malang, Makassar, and Ambon. It attracted more than 1,750 participants and engaged 50 esports communities nationwide.

To mark the culmination of the ASIED program, the US Embassy collaborated with the Indonesian Esports Federation (PB ESI), the Odong Prestasi Indonesia Foundation, and Garudaku Academy to host the Grand Final of the American Spaces Indonesia Esports National Championship at the @america cultural center in Jakarta on Friday (July 17).

Acting Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Jakarta Abraham Lee highlighted that the digital ecosystem can serve as a powerful catalyst for forging bilateral friendships.

He observed that esports has emerged as a primary platform for connecting youth across different cultures and continents.

"Through ASIED, we have seen firsthand how a shared passion for gaming can spark friendships, build skills, and open doors to new opportunities for young Indonesians and for the broader U.S.-Indonesia relationship," Lee remarked.

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Translator: Uyu Septiyati Liman

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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