Deal Looms as Indonesia Lifts iPhone 16 Sales Ban with Apple Investment Plan
Indonesia nears an agreement with Apple regarding an investment strategy that would revoke the ban on iPhone 16 sales within its borders, according to a government official.
Southeast Asia's largest nation imposed the ban in October, citing Apple's non-compliance with domestic manufacturing mandates for smartphones and tablets. The company has engaged in negotiations with the government for an investment package to alleviate these restrictions.
"I firmly believe it will be sorted out very, very soon. Hopefully, this issue can be resolved within one or two weeks," proclaimed Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani on Tuesday during an interview with Bloomberg Television in Davos.
Apple's recent $1 billion proposal for one of its suppliers to establish an Indonesian airtag manufacturing facility was turned down by Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in January. He conveyed to Apple's vice-president for global affairs, Nick Ammann, and the Apple delegation that the U.S. company must adhere to a local regulation requiring it to domestically manufacture a portion of its iPhones or their components.
"I believe their calculation is different," elaborated Roeslani with reference to the local content requirement. "They have now found a solution for that concern, so we hope they accept the discrepancies, allowing us to sell the iPhone 16 in Indonesia."