Jakarta, 4 March, 2026 – The success of Indonesia as the host and runner-up of the M7 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship 2026 has become a driving force to further strengthen its position as a global esports hub. The Government has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth of the gaming industry as one of the new engines of growth for the national creative economy.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, received an audience with esports stakeholders from Moonton at the Office of the Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency, Jakarta, on Wednesday (March 4, 2026).
“ We do not only look at the development of this industry from a general perspective, but also at how these products and ecosystems can be developed in a more strategic and sustainable manner. In addition, there is an important segment in intergovernmental relations (government relations), with the presence of several officials from abroad who attended the event. Moving forward, coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also be strengthened to support international event diplomacy,” said Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar while receiving esports stakeholders from Moonton at Autograph Tower, Jakarta, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
On that occasion, Deputy Minister Irene reaffirmed that the Government’s support is not solely focused on the industry’s growth in terms of popularity and market scale, but also on how its products and ecosystem can be developed strategically and sustainably. Moreover, the development of the esports industry in Indonesia over the past few years has shown a highly positive trend.
Documentation by the Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
In addition to being supported by a large youth population and high internet penetration, the ecosystem has also become increasingly mature, ranging from game developers, tournament organizers, professional teams, and content creators to supporting businesses such as event organizers and technology providers. This value chain opens broad economic opportunities and contributes to the growth of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The economic impact of hosting the M7 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship 2026 in Surakarta provides a concrete example. Within the span of one month, the event recorded an investment value of nearly USD 4 million. In terms of employment, around 2,200 people were involved, ranging from security personnel to the entire event operations team. These figures demonstrate that global-scale esports events are capable of creating both direct and indirect employment opportunities within a relatively short period of time.
Documentation by the Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
International participation has also generated significant impact on the tourism sector and foreign exchange earnings. The M7 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship 2026 was attended by 22 teams from various countries, along with the presence of 35 foreign officials.
Ticket sales to international fans were recorded at more than USD 15,000 during the sales period, reflecting strong global interest in events hosted in Indonesia. Each team brought an average of around 30 people, including players, coaches, management, and supporting crew, which directly contributed to the increase in international tourist arrivals.
Documentation by the Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
“ Our role at the Ministry is not to take over the business, but to act as a facilitator that brings stakeholders together so that collaboration can run effectively and generate mutual benefits. We have a game industry and local creators who must continue to be encouraged. The game developer ecosystem in Indonesia consists of various groups with different characteristics, and all of them have the potential to contribute to national economic growth,” said Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar.
Overall, the organization of international events such as the M7 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship 2026 demonstrates that the gaming industry and the creative economy make tangible contributions to investment, job creation, tourism growth, and the strengthening of Indonesia’s position on the global stage. Going forward, cross-ministerial synergy, collaboration among industry players, and partnerships with international stakeholders—supported by data and strategic planning—will be key to maximizing the vast potential of the gaming subsector as a new pillar of national economic growth.
Documentation by the Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
Also present at the meeting were Cherry as Vice President of MOONTON Games, Dylan Chia as Head of SEA Esports MOONTON Games, Rose as Head of the ID Publishing Team MOONTON Games, and Martinus Manurung as Head of Esports Business Development Indonesia MOONTON Games.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
