Minister Of Industry Agus: RI Imports 2.8 Million Phones, 85 Percent Are Apple Products

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (right). (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said, as much as 85 percent of the 2.8 million imported phones per year in Indonesia are Apple products.

This was conveyed after Apple CEO Tim Cook met President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 17.

"So, if we look at the data last year, Indonesia produced nearly 50 million HP units in Indonesia. 2.8 million imported units. 50 million were produced in Indonesia, 2.8 million imported. Of the 2.8 million imports, 85 percent were Apple products. The import rate is around 2 billion US dollars," he said.

Minister of Industry Agus explained that currently almost all cellphones sold in Indonesia must be assembled in the country to comply with the rules of the domestic component level (TKDN).

However, only the iPhone is still imported intact.

He added that Apple has not yet opened its factory in Indonesia. Therefore, the government encourages Apple to build its factories in the country.

This is because Indonesia is ready to hold a number of components, such as batteries, cables and so on.

"After coming from here, the Ministry of Industry will carry out a business matching process. We already have a list (list) of what components have been produced in Indonesia, maybe we can mate them, called business matching. Business matching is a faster process because the goods already exist, maybe later there will be adjustments from the specifications," he said.

Furthermore, Agus said, Apple has committed to investing IDR 1.6 trillion in Indonesia.

He said the type of investment from technology manufacturers from the United States (US) was to build an educational infrastructure, namely the Apple Developer Academy.

This educational infrastructure will be built in four regions, namely Bali, Batam, Surabaya and South Tangerang, Banten.

"Well, that's the total investment value of around Rp. 1.6 trillion from the four cities," he said.