JAKARTA: Handset buyers were cheered by merchants in Jakarta on April 11 after Apple’s latest cellphone went on sale following a monthslong restrictions in Indonesia.
The advertising and sale of phone 16 models was prohibited by the state in October over Apple’s failing to meet legislation requiring that 40 % of laptop components be made from native parts.
But the US tech giant announced last month that its latest cellphone designs had struck the aisles, days after striking a deal with the Indonesian government to invest in the country.
Albert Wongso, 34, told AFP outside the business he was quite happy to learn that the phone 16s were then available in Indonesia.
” I’m really happy to hear from the news because we can get the phone directly from Indonesia”, the IT expert told AFP Friday, adding that he was looking to buy the phone 16 Pro design to replace his phone 11.
” Because if we buy from the other country… it’s quite hard for example to claim the warranty”, he said.
While the ban was in place, the government had allowed iPhone 16 models to be brought into the country, provided they were not being traded commercially.
A win for Apple
Jakarta rejected a US$ 100mil ( RM443.11mil ) investment proposal from Apple in November, saying it lacked the “fairness” required by the government.
The company later agreed to invest US$ 150mil ( RM664.67mil ) in building two facilities – one in Bandung in West Java province to produce accessories, and another in Batam for Air Tags.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in February that Apple had also committed to building a semiconductor research and development centre in Indonesia, calling it a” first of its kind in Asia”.
The iPhone 16’s entry into the Indonesian market marks a win for Apple and signalled the economic importance of the country of 280 million people.
” Indonesia is one of the biggest markets for Apple in the Asian region apart from China and so on”, said Nailul Huda, director of digital economy at the think tank, Centre of Economic and Law Studies ( CELIOS).
The Indonesian government is considering relaxing regulation of the information and communication technology sector ahead of talks with the United States over President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto is set to lead a delegation to Washington this month in the hope of striking a better deal after Trump announced a 90-day pause on the harshest tariff against US trading partners.
Indonesia has also banned the sale of Google Pixel phones for failing to meet the 40 % local parts requirement.  , – AFP