Sandiaga Praises The Greatness Of Charles Hebingadi: Not Yet In MotoGP, At Least In MotoGP E-Sports We Are Top 3

Sandiaga Uno (Photo via Ministry)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno appreciates the success of Charles Hebingadil or Tateego_, an e-Sports athlete from North Sulawesi who won the third position in the Rest of The World category in the MotoGP E-Sports competition.

This was conveyed by Sandiaga in the Weekly Press Briefing which took place in a hybrid manner from the Sapta Pesona Building, Central Jakarta as in the ministry's press release, Tuesday 24 May.

Sandiaga said Tateego was the only athlete from Indonesia who managed to occupy the Top 8 standings in the virtual motorcycle racing competition.

"Hopefully, if there are no Indonesian riders in MotoGP, at least in E-Sports we are in the top three in the world. Excited for Tateego," said Sandiaga.

Tateego himself will later compete in five virtual race series. Where in the closing series of the Mandalika Circuit, West Nusa Tenggara will be the circuit to be contested.

Sandiaga promised to be committed to supporting the establishment of the game industry ecosystem in Indonesia so that it could open up business opportunities and employment opportunities for the community. Preparation for the formation of this ecosystem is a task given by President Joko Widodo so that the game industry in Indonesia can progress and develop rapidly.

"(The goal) is that the e-sports or gaming industry, which has a market potential of more than US$2 billion, will open up more opportunities for Indonesian gaming players such as game developers and players. So the chain of the gaming industry is quite long and (can be ) opens up wide job opportunities," said Sandiaga.

One of the efforts that will be carried out by the Kemenparerraf, continued Sandiaga, is to form a Public Service Agency (BLU) to provide access to financing to local game developers. Thus, the quality of local games can be increased and competed in the international arena.

Sandiaga also appreciated the success of the Indonesian E-sports contingent which won two gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal at the 2021 Sea Games in Vietnam. "I congratulate the athletes for their achievements because they have won gold medals in the Sea Games (in games) PUBG Mobile and Free Fire," he said.

On the same occasion, the Deputy for Digital Economy and Creative Products Kemenparekraf / Baparekraf, Muhammad Neil El Himam, said, Kemenparekraf provides support to Tateego_ who competed under the banner of the Gresini Racing team.

"We support the visa and passport arrangements. All costs are borne by the team," said Neil.

Neil hopes that the presence of Tateego_ in this competition can further expand Indonesia's promotion, especially in terms of tourism and game potential.

"Because Tateego comes from Manado, where there is one of the super priority destinations, namely Likupang. We hope that in the future it can attract more tourists to come to Indonesia," he said.

Neil added that Indonesia has enormous potential in the gaming industry. Because, it is estimated that there are 56 million gamers spread throughout Indonesia.

Neil also said that his party was encouraging local game developers to prepare five local games which would later be competed in E-sports competitions. "Currently we have got one game, hopefully in the near future we will finish the other four games," said Neil.