Why did Indonesia ban Apple from selling iPhone 16 in the archipelago?

Indonesia has banned Apple from selling its latest iPhone 16 devices in Southeast Asia's largest economy, saying the company has not met local investment requirements.

The Indonesian Industry Ministry said the iPhone 16, which was launched in September, is not allowed to be marketed in the domestic market because local company PT Apple Indonesia has not met the 40% localization requirement for smartphones.

Indonesia bans Apple from selling iPhone 16 in the country due to investment commitment problems.

That’s a setback for Apple, which has been enjoying strong sales of its flagship product, especially as demand surges in China. Indonesia is a $1 trillion economy where the number of active mobile phones is estimated at more than 350 million — more than the country’s population of 270 million.

The Ministry of Industry previously announced that Apple had only invested $95 million, equivalent to VND2,500 billion, in Indonesia, lower than its initial commitment of $109 million. Apple has built development academies instead of establishing local manufacturing facilities.

About 9,000 iPhone 16 devices were brought into Indonesia, either by passengers and crew members or by mail. However, these devices are only allowed for personal use and cannot be traded.

Each passenger entering Indonesia is only allowed to bring 2 iPhone 16 phones and cannot be sold.

Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry announced that tourists to the archipelago can bring iPhone 16, but it cannot be sold and is only for personal use.

"The iPhone 16 devices carried by passengers and taxed are personal property that cannot be sold and are restricted to the passengers' personal use," Industry Ministry spokesman Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said on October 26.

According to a report by the Jakarta Globe, each passenger is only allowed to bring a maximum of two iPhone 16s into Indonesia. iPhone 16 devices imported into Indonesia via the postal service for non-commercial purposes are also allowed, as they do not need to meet local investment targets.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/vi-sao-indonesia-cam-apple-ban-iphone-16-o-xu-van-dao-192241028143041058.htm