Indonesia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, has highlighted the important role of the sports industry and youth entrepreneurs in developing the country. The minister stated that the sports industry is a key focus for his ministry, with an emphasis on encouraging national achievement in sports, strengthening the industry, and promoting youth entrepreneurship. The minister aims to promote a culture of excellence in sports and produce world-class athletes who can represent Indonesia with pride and honor. He also wants to industrialize the sports sector to significantly contribute to Indonesia’s economic growth by supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in sports-related industries and providing incentives to investors who want to invest in this sector. The sports sector in Indonesia has shown remarkable growth in recent years, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.3% from 2013 to 2019. In 2019, the sports sector contributed around $2.3 billion to the country’s GDP and employed more than 170,000 people. The sports market in Indonesia is expected to grow by 8.7% from 2020 to 2025, driven by increasing popularity of sports and fitness activities, increasing disposable income, and growing interest in sports tourism. The minister believes that youth entrepreneurship and volunteerism are crucial for creating a more prosperous and just future for Indonesia. He emphasizes the need for support and collaboration from all major strategic elements in ASEAN countries to realize their vision for a better future for their youth and sports sectors.
