We are not anti-foreigners, but we do not want to become a market only.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is aiming to strengthen the local gaming industry by drafting a presidential decree concerning a program for accelerating its development, which will be issued soon.

Ad-interim coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, Erick Thohir, said that Indonesia should not only be a target market for digital products, including the gaming industry.

"We are not anti-foreigners, but we do not want to become a market only. Therefore, win-win partnership is important," he added at the Asia Creative and Digital Economy Youth Summit (ACE-YS) in Jakarta on Saturday.

According to him, the presidential decree is important to support the development of the local gaming industry.

With the issuance of the decree, it is hoped that the local gaming industry can start to produce more games and derivative products, he said.

In addition, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) can jump in and collaborate with universities to support the development of the gaming industry, the minister added.

Thohir noted that 150 million people in Indonesia consume global games. Thus, Indonesia has a big market share in the industry, but has not been able to manage the large market.

He then asked game producers to collaborate with Indonesia to develop national games.

"This industry must be fair for Indonesians. We cannot be exploited. We must realize a mutual benefit," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, deputy for tourism and creative economy coordination at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Odo R.M. Manuhutu, said that 99.5 percent of the gaming industry's income flows abroad.

Under the presidential decree, 70 percent of the gaming industry's income is aimed to be generated from the local gaming industry, he added. This target is expected to be achieved in 2024–2025.

He further informed that the decree would also encourage the production of quality human resources through training.

Moreover, it will accommodate a number of challenges faced by the gaming industry, including those related to access to financing, software and hardware development, and promotional activities, he added.

"Our young people tend to play foreign games. We must seize this opportunity to produce local games. We need to improve the quality of our human resources, software, and the regulations," Manuhutu said.


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Translator: Rizka Khaerunnisa, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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