Indonesia has taken a significant step in regulating its smartphone market by blocking the sale of Apple's newly released iPhone 16. According to Indonesia's Ministry of Industry, the iPhone 16 does not comply with the country's regulation requiring that at least 40 percent of a smartphone's components be locally manufactured.
Febri Hendri Antoni Arief, spokesperson for the ministry, stated, \"Imported iPhone 16 hardware cannot be marketed in the country because Apple Indonesia has not fulfilled its investment commitment to secure local content certification.\" This move means that while the iPhone 16 cannot be sold directly in Indonesia, individual consumers are still able to purchase the device abroad and bring it into the country, provided they pay the necessary import taxes.
Apple has yet to respond to the ministry's announcement. Indonesia is a crucial market for tech giants, boasting a large and tech-savvy population that attracts significant investment from global firms. During Apple CEO Tim Cook's visit in April, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita expressed hopes that Apple would enhance its local content by collaborating with Indonesian businesses.
While Apple currently has no manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, the company has invested $101.8 million in local app developer academies since 2018 to support the growth of Indonesia's tech talent. Despite these efforts, Chinese company OPPO and South Korea's Samsung continue to dominate Indonesia's smartphone market, leading sales in the first quarter of 2024, according to research firm IDC.
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Apple's iPhone 16 blocked from Indonesian market over local parts rule
cgtn.com
