Deputy Minister Touts Esports as Creative Economic Engine

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, attended the Grand Final of the M7 World Championship 2026 at Tennis Indoor, Jakarta, on Sunday (25/1/2026). This international-scale Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament featured a showdown between the host nation's esports team, Alter Ego, and the visiting team from the Philippines, Aurora.

Although the championship title this year was won by Aurora, Alter Ego's competitive performance from the early stages demonstrated Indonesia's robust standing in international esports.

In her remarks, the Deputy Minister expressed appreciation for an event that showcased Indonesia's cultural richness while strengthening the national esports ecosystem. "The games and esports industry is a tangible sector that grows alongside its community. Today, we are proud to see an Indonesian team shine on the global stage," she said.

She added, "For me, Alter Ego has already emerged as a winner. Their presence in the final, coupled with the extraordinary enthusiasm of their fanbase, proves that Indonesia's esports ecosystem is strong and holds sustainable potential to become a new engine of growth for the creative economy."

Beyond the main match, the M7 Carnival series highlighted various local creative economy subsectors, including culinary, music, and creative products, all packaged to deliver a comprehensive experience for visitors. The festival also featured the official Mobile Legends pop-up store, interactive zones, and a wide array of Indonesian MSME booths.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, President of the International Esports Federation (IESF), stated that since the competition began, MLBB has become one of the largest and most influential games globally. "All of this is tied to capability, collaboration with a community that demonstrates pride, and the development of a sustainable ecosystem for players, clubs, content creators, and fans," he said.

Watched by over five million online viewers and thousands of live spectators at the arena, the event underscored the high level of public enthusiasm and the thriving games and esports culture in Indonesia.

The M7 World Championship 2026 proved Indonesia's capability to host world-class esports events that drive the creative economy. It simultaneously strengthened global competitiveness, supported the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, and reaffirmed games and esports as strategic subsectors within the creative economy.

Accompanying Deputy Minister Irene Umar at the event were the Minister's Special Staff for Creative Economy Ecosystem and Data Strengthening, Jago Anggara, and the Director of Games at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Luat Sihombing.