What You Need to Know About Apple in Indonesia
Indonesia has recently banned Apple’s iPhone 16, stopping its sale and use in that country. According to a statement by the Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita to The Times of India, “use of any iPhone 16 in Indonesia is illegal; he urges the community not to buy from other countries.
Kartasasmita also quickly reminded everyone that, if an iPhone 16 were actually found working in Indonesia, this would be illegal and he encouraged people to report such cases. He added that it did not have International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) certification.
Why is iPhone 16 banned in Indonesia?
The ban is because Apple has not fully met its investment promises in Indonesia. Out of the promised 1.71 trillion rupiah ($109 million), Apple has only invested 1.48 trillion rupiah ($95 million), which leaves 230 billion rupiah ($14.75 million) still needed. Kartasasmita explained that the Ministry of Industry has not given permits for the iPhone 16 because some promises are still not fulfilled.
Last month, earlier, the minister revealed that Apple’s iPhone 16 cannot be sold in Indonesia because the TKDN certification is not approved. It awaits more investments from Apple.
The TKDN certification for Domestic Component Level says that in order to sell its products here, companies must have 40 percent domestic content, so this certification is related to the promise of Apple to set up research and development centers called an Apple Academy.Indonesia calls for AppleThe announcement came days after Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Jakarta last April.
During the visit, he discussed possible manufacturing plans with President Joko Widodo. This marks that Apple will consider having production facilities in Indonesia.
The iPhone 16 was launched worldwide on September 20, but it is not available in Indonesia. Other new Apple products, like the iPhone 16 Pro series and Apple Watch Series 10, are also not available there.
Febri Hendri Antoni Arif, a spokesperson for the Ministry, confirmed that the TKDN certification for the iPhone 16 is still being reviewed. This review depends on Apple meeting its investment commitments.
Product availability and high street presence
Through Apple’s official Indonesia website, customers get access to latest versions: the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV. They can explore and buy these devices directly from the site.
Other than online selling, Apple has partnered with authorized resellers around Indonesia. These include iBox, an Apple Premium Reseller selling original products and accessories with free shipping, and iStore, which offers several models of Apple products and accessories.
New Developments
The Ministry of Industry in Indonesia banned the sale of Apple’s iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 from October 2024. The reason behind this is that Apple failed to meet the standard requirement on local content standards, the minimum requirement for utilizing components within the country to produce smartphones amounting to 40%. Apple had promised to invest 1.71 trillion rupiah for it to be given the necessary certification, but they only invested 1.48 trillion rupiah. Financial Times
In response, Apple agreed that it would invest about US$10 million in its local production facility and ensure that such production is conducted consistent with the laws of this country.
READWRITE Market Effect Other Apple devices are available, so sales ban for iPhone 16 and Series 10 Apple Watch will not have much effect on them. The ban is primarily on the fresh sale of new devices; however, there is no limit on selling the already available models through authorized dealers. Thus, with millions of active mobile devices in Indonesia, the market is huge for Apple. The willingness and efforts toward compliance of local regulations and investment in local manufacturing serve as an indication that Apple is devoted to the Indonesian market.
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