On Friday, Indonesia issued local content certificates for 20 Apple products, including the highly anticipated iPhone 16. However, the company still requires additional permits from other government ministries before it can begin selling these devices in the country.
The issuance of these certificates follows Apple’s recent announcement of more than $300 million in investments in Indonesia, including funding for plants producing components for its products and establishing a research and development center. This move comes after Indonesia imposed a ban on iPhone 16 sales last year due to Apple’s failure to meet local content requirements.
Apple was granted certificates for 11 phone models and 9 tablets, having successfully met the necessary criteria, according to industry ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief. However, Apple still needs permits from the communications and digital ministry as well as the trade ministry to begin selling its products in Indonesia.
Despite making progress, Apple has yet to receive a response from the relevant Indonesian ministries regarding its requests. Negotiations between the tech giant and Indonesia’s government had been described as “tricky” by the country’s industry minister.
According to research firm Canalyst, Apple was not among the top five smartphone brands in Indonesia in the third quarter of the previous year, highlighting the challenge the company faces in regaining market share.
