
Iphone 16 Banned From
Entering Indonesia, Apple Turns
Out To Be ‘Stepping’
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia –Apple fans must be patient waiting for the iPhone 16 to enter Indonesia. The reason is, Apple has not yet met the local content requirements either through investment or assembly in the country.
Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi once explained the reason for the iPhone factory being built in Indonesia. Apple apparently demanded too big an incentive from the government.
Apple, he explained, asked Indonesia to provide the same incentive as they received in Vietnam. In Vietnam, Apple received a 50-year tax exemption.The Minister of Communication and Information emphasized that Apple’s request not to pay taxes for 50 years was too big for the Indonesian government.
“The tax holiday is too big, their request is too heavy. 50 years [similar to] Vietnam,” said Budi when met at the Kadin Tower, some time ago.
If the government grants the request, other companies are afraid of asking for the same thing. Budi also emphasized that Apple would not be able to build a factory in the country.
“It’s impossible,” said Budi firmly. Apple is the only smartphone manufacturer that does not have a factory in Indonesia. Other big brands such as Samsung from South Korea and Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo from China have already assembled their phones locally.
Indonesia requires 4G mobile radio devices, including smartphones, to meet local content requirements. This local content can be fulfilled through manufacturing, software, or investment. So far, Apple has continued to import the entire iPhone and has achieved TKDN through investment in the development of the Apple Developer Academy.
Since its launch early last month, there have been no signs that the iPhone 16 series will be coming to Indonesia soon. Including not having entered the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) certification of the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin), which is a requirement for devices to be marketed in Indonesia.
For information, the iPhone 15 was launched in Indonesia in October 2023. The release was only a month after being introduced globally in September last year.
SOURCE : CNBC INDONESIA