Bringing Indonesian Esports to a Global Level, KA BIN Budi Gunawan Trusted to Lead PB ESI 2024-2029

Jakarta – The National Sports Conference and National Coordination Meeting of PB Esports Indonesia (PB ESI) which took place at the Grand Ballroom Intercontinental Jakarta (06/09) marked an important moment with the re-election of the Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) General of Police (ret.) Prof. Dr. Budi Gunawan, SH, M.Sc., Ph.D., PSM, as the General Chairperson of PB ESI for the 2024-2029 period by acclamation. 

In his speech, Budi Gunawan expressed his gratitude for the trust given to lead PB ESI again, while highlighting the rapid development of the e-sports world in Indonesia and globally. 

“The global reach of e-sports has reached more than 577 million audiences in 2024. In Indonesia, e-sports as a new sport has shown significant development,” he said.

Budi Gunawan believes that the ecosystem that has been formed has succeeded in changing society’s negative views about games.

“Now with the development of e-sports, playing games can be a promising career choice, because it can make money and achieve at an international level,” he explained.

Budi Gunawan also noted various achievements during the 2020-2024 period, including international recognition of PB ESI and the development of an e-sports academy that now involves 84 schools and 19 universities. 

“We have established an e-sports academy from junior high school to college, this is a big step in building a foundation for the younger generation,” he added.

In addition, the international world recognizes PB ESI as the only official e-sports parent organization that represents Indonesia in the international e-sports federation. 

“This is the result of the hard work of Indonesian E-sports diplomacy, which is increasingly recognized as a global power,” he said optimistically.

Deputy Chairman III of KONI, Major General TNI Ret. Andri Sutarno, also expressed his appreciation for the performance of PB ESI under the leadership of Budi Gunawan. 

“PB ESI has succeeded in making e-sports one of the nationally and internationally recognized sports. At the 2024 Aceh-North Sumatra PON, Indonesian e-sports continues to show extraordinary progress,” he said.

The rise of the Indonesian gaming industry under Budi Gunawan’s leadership at PB ESI has also triggered esports to present one of the local games, namely Battle of Guardians.

“I express my highest appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Budi Gunawan and his staff, especially the Executive Board of Sport Indonesia for the first term of office, who have greatly advanced the history of sports in the country,” he praised. 

In addition, the Expert Staff for Sports Culture of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ir. Hamka Hendra Noer, also expressed his support.

“Indonesia continues to show extraordinary achievements, especially at the 2023 Cambodia Sea Games, Indonesia succeeded in emerging as the overall champion for the esports branch,” said Hamka.

Hamka praised the achievements in the international arena at the 2022 international esports world championship in Bali, where Indonesia also emerged as champion.

“The development of esports achievements through the management of PB Esport Indonesia under the leadership of General Budi Gunawan has been successful,” he said.

All ESI Provincial Chairmen stated that they accepted the PB ESI accountability report for the 2020-2024 period and agreed by acclamation to appoint Budi Gunawan to continue his leadership. 

The leadership of the National Sports Conference then issued an official decision to appoint Budi Gunawan as the General Chairperson of PB ESI for the 2024-2029 period.

With the re-election of Budi Gunawan, PB ESI is expected to be able to continue the positive trend of Indonesian e-sports, develop an inclusive ecosystem, and achieve more achievements in the international arena.