It’s being widely reported that Apple should be able to sell its iPhone 16 phones in Indonesia soon. Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita suggested this week that the long-running issue, centring around local manufacture – or the lack of it – could be close to being resolved.
It seems that Apple and the government have agreed deals that include plans for an Apple manufacturing plant and a research and development centre.
If this is correct, the saga, which began last year with a ban on sales of the iPhone 16 due to Apple's failure to meet requirements on locally made components, could soon be over. However, Agus gave no timeframe for when Apple would be permitted to sell the device in Indonesia.
Reuters quotes the Industry Minister as saying the months-long negotiations with Apple had been "tricky", and mentions his comment that the firm is now in the process of obtaining a local content certificate to sell its handsets.
The agreements involved are apparently worth more than US$300 million, and involve Apple investing in a software research and development centre near the capital Jakarta, plus plants to produce components for its products, including its AirPods headphones.
Companies can usually meet Indonesia's composition requirements through local partnerships or by sourcing parts locally. Apple has no manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, but since 2018 it has set up local developer academies.
Plans for an Apple manufacturing facility, announced in December 2024, were thought likely to end the ban, but it remained in place throughout the start of this year.
