I League Seeks to Turn Indonesia's Sports Competitions into Economic Drivers

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - I League sees national sports competitions as having strong potential to grow into an industry and drive economic growth. Developing this potential requires collaboration among the government, private sector, clubs, communities, and other stakeholders.

During a session on the national sports competition ecosystem at Indonesia Sports Summit (ISS) 2026 in Jakarta, on Sunday, September 13, 2026, I League Competition Director, Asep Saputra, said Indonesia has strong foundations for developing its sports industry. These include the country's large population and high public interest in sports.

“Big passion, but also there is bigger opportunity. There are things we want to explore, and they require collaboration from all parties,” Asep said.

He cited data from the Ministry of Youth and Sports showing that estimated sports spending reached 39 trillion rupiah. However, he said sports contributed only around 0.19 percent to the national economy in 2024.

He said the economic impact of a sports match does not end when the final whistle blows. Activities before and after a match can stimulate various sectors, including travel, accommodation, and local economic activities.

“Good economic impact cannot be created automatically; we have to design it,” Asep said.

The Director pointed to football matches, which last only 90 minutes on the field. However, the surrounding ecosystem can generate much greater economic value through various activities connected to the match.

For this reason, I League aims to transform from merely a match operator into an ecosystem builder. The competition development is intended to create better matches, reach larger audiences, and generate greater economic value.

“Better competition, bigger audience, greater value,” he added.

Asep stressed the importance of collaboration among the government, private sector, clubs, communities, and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Such collaboration is needed to turn Indonesia's significant sports potential into sustainable economic value.