Indonesia and Apple reportedly agree on terms to lift iPhone 16 ban

Apple’s A18-powered iPhone 16
Indonesia and Apple Inc. have reached an agreement to lift the ban on iPhone 16s in the country, according to sources familiar with the situation, Bloomberg News reports Tuesday. This deal resolves a five-month standoff, prompting the U.S. tech company to increase its pledged investment in Indonesia to $1 billion.
Faris Mokhtar for Bloomberg News:
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The Ministry for Industry, which is responsible for upholding the ban, is set to sign a memorandum of agreement with Apple as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the talks, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters. A press briefing will also be held, the people said, adding the ministry intends to issue a permit allowing iPhone 16 sales as soon as possible.
The deal concludes a battle that started in October after Indonesia refused to issue a permit for the sale of Apple’s latest device, citing a failure to comply with domestic manufacturing requirements for smartphones and tablets. Apple then pledged to invest $1 billion in Indonesia, an offer President Prabowo Subianto directed his ministers to accept. However, the Ministry of Industry last month unexpectedly upheld the ban as it sought better terms.
On top of the $1 billion investment, Apple will commit to training locals in research and development on the company’s products so they can then develop similar software and design their own goods, the people said. The move is set to placate the government, which has been pushing Apple to set up R&D facilities in the country, they added… Apple has no immediate plans to start making iPhones in the country, the people said.

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MacDailyNews Take: Good to see this rectified as Indonesia is a huge market with a population of over 280 million people as of 2024.

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