- Jakarta is positioning esports as a core pillar of its creative economy and digital city roadmap.
- Major events like M7 and WCG 2025 are being used to cement the city’s status as a regional tech leader.
- The city is leveraging smart infrastructure to support a sustainable ecosystem for local gaming talent.
In Jakarta, Indonesia, things move fast, not just the traffic, but the digital landscape too. While I’m here on the ground for the MLBB M7 World Championship, I had the chance to sit down with Raymond Stefanus, Head of Section of Marketing and Capital, from the Jakarta Provincial Creative Economy and Tourism Office. What I expected to be a standard welcome turned into a fascinating look at how this city is evolving. It looks like, for the provincial government, gaming isn’t just a hobby, it’s the blueprint for Jakarta’s global smart city vision.
During our chat, Raymond mentioned that Jakarta isn’t just “hosting” a tournament, they are integrating the entire industry into the city’s identity. He explained that as a global city undergoing “continuous digital and creative transformation,” Jakarta sees the esports industry as a strategic sector reflecting innovation and youth engagement.
The numbers back up why they are paying such close attention. With Mobile Legends: Bang Bang boasting over 1.3 billion registered users and MPL Indonesia hitting nearly 117 million hours watched, the scale is too massive to ignore.
For Jakarta city, this is a “powerful platform for economic activity, digital engagement, and global visibility.”
The Indonesian city is shaping a youth-friendly tech environment
One of the most interesting takeaways was how the Indonesian city bridges the gap between a “creative economy” and a “smart city.” Raymond noted that esports is positioned right at the intersection of both.
From a creative side, it fuels game development and content creation. From a digital city standpoint, it’s about “the adoption of digital innovation, smart infrastructure, and technology-driven communities.”
Essentially, the high-speed needs of a pro gamer are the same needs of a modern, “smart” citizen. Initiatives like ‘Jakarta Esport: New Heights 2025‘ and the ‘Jakarta Game Expo‘ are designed to ensure this ecosystem stays sustainable.
Jakarta city isn’t keeping this vision behind closed doors. They are actively looking outward, participating in major global stages like the Tokyo Game Show and Gamescom. Raymond emphasized that “international collaboration is considered important for knowledge exchange and capacity building.”
By hosting the World Cyber Games (WCG) 2025 Festival and the current M7 World Championship, Jakarta is proving it’s ready to attract international talent and audiences. The city is doing its best for the branding and its creative tourism.
Ultimately, this strategy is for the next generation. By supporting esports, Jakarta is shaping its image as a “modern, innovative, and youth-oriented global city.” It provides a real platform for Gen Z and Millennials to pursue actual careers in the digital creative economy.
As I watch the matches unfold here at M7, it looks like the energy in the arena is exactly what the city wants to capture for its broader “smart” future.
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What are your thoughts about Jakarta’s global smart city vision? Tell us in the comments below!
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