Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo has emphasized the important role of the sports industry and youth entrepreneurs in developing the country.

Therefore, he said, his ministry is focusing on encouraging national achievement in the sports sector, strengthening the industry in the sports sector, and promoting youth entrepreneurship.

"These three pillars form the core of our vision for a better future for young people," he informed during the ASEAN Youth Dialogue (AYD) on Development for Sustainable Development Goals, according to information posted on its official website, which was accessed from Jakarta on Tuesday.

Furthermore, he said that his ministry is aiming to promote a culture of excellence in sports and produce world-class athletes who can represent Indonesia with pride and honor.

"We will invest in sports infrastructure, develop talent at the grassroots level, and provide our athletes with the necessary resources and support," Ariotedjo affirmed.

In addition, the minister said that he is committed to carrying out industrialization in the sports sector so that it can significantly contribute to Indonesia's economic growth.

"We will support innovation and entrepreneurship in sports-related industries and provide incentives to investors who want to invest in this sector," he disclosed.

According to him, the Indonesian sports sector has shown remarkable growth in recent years, recording a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.3 percent from 2013 to 2019.

According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), in 2019, the sports sector contributed around Rp34.5 trillion or US$2.3 billion to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and employed more than 170 thousand people.

In addition, based on data from researchandmarkets.com, the sports market in Indonesia is expected to record a CAGR of 8.7 percent during the 2020–2025 period.

As per the report, growth will be driven by the increasing popularity of sports and fitness activities, increasing disposable income, and growing interest in sports tourism.

Furthermore, he said he believes that youth entrepreneurship and volunteerism are very important for creating a more prosperous and just future for Indonesia.

“The youth in our region are our greatest assets, and the sports sector is our strength to unite the country. However, we cannot achieve our goals alone. We need support and collaboration from all major strategic elements in ASEAN countries to realize our vision for a better future for our youth and sports sectors," he added.

Related news: Why lifting PPKM could help sports industry score a revival
Related news: KONI, SMEs Ministry to develop MSME products for sports industry









Translator: Arnidhya Nur Z, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023