Indonesia sticks to iPhone 16 sales ban despite Apple’s proposed US$1b investment

[JAKARTA] Indonesia remains firm on banning iPhone sales, citing Apple’s failure to comply with local content requirements, despite the company’s pledge to establish an AirTag manufacturing facility in Batam for US$1 billion.

The Indonesian government’s decision delivers a significant blow to Apple, which had previously submitted an investment proposal for a market of about 280 million people.

The confirmation came from Indonesia’s Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, on Wednesday (Jan 8), following a series of meetings with Apple’s management in Jakarta on Tuesday.