Apple’s offer to lift the iPhone 16 sales ban in Indonesia by offering to invest $100 million in new manufacturing plants in the country is likely to be rejected in hopes of a larger investment sum, according to a new statement by an Indonesian government official (via Antara News).
A spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry confirmed the government’s intention in a new statement. “From the government’s perspective, of course, we want this investment to be larger,” said Febri Hendri Antoni Arif on Thursday. This means that the iPhone 16 sales ban that went into effect in October will likely last for the foreseeable future as two of Apple’s investment offers have been turned down.
In October, Indonesia announced a surprise iPhone 16 sales ban as the device lacks enough locally made components. Apple rushed to offer a $10 million investment to enact its first manufacturing plant in the country before significantly raising its offer to $100 million last week. Indonesia has also indicated its desire for Apple to build a dedicated research and development center in the country rather than just assembly plants.
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The debacle continues as Apple’s subsidiary in Indonesia hasn’t fulfilled the country’s 40% local components production quota for smartphones and tablets. Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry confirmed the iPhone 16 sales ban in an official statement. However, older Apple products can still be sold and marketed in the country.
