Apple Has Paid A Debt Of 10 Million US Dollars, Minister Of Industry Agus: We Have Received It

Photo: Special

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the technology giant company from the United States (US), namely Apple, had paid a debt of 10 million US dollars or Rp163.6 billion (exchange rate of Rp16,360) to the Indonesian government.

The debt is the remaining realization of Apple's investment to obtain domestic component-level certificates (TKDN) for the period 2020-2023.

"Yes, we have paid, we have received it," said Minister of Industry Agus as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 19.

The Ministry of Industry stated that Apple's investment in this period had not fully complied with the Minister of Industry Regulation (Permenperin) Number 29 of 2017, which has provided facilities for Apple to sell its products in Indonesia.

The Ministry of Industry said that Apple was proven and admitted that they still have a debt of investment commitment worth US$10 million in the 2020-2023 period due in June 2023.

Based on the regulations listed, non-compliance can cause Apple to be subject to sanctions for adding new investment capital, freezing TKDN certificates, and even revocation of TKDN certificates which result in Apple products not being traded in Indonesia.

Of the three sanctions, the Ministry of Industry chose the lightest sanctions, namely the addition of investment capital for the third scheme in the proposal for the 2024-2026 period.

This sanction has also been conveyed in the counter proposal of the Ministry of Industry in negotiations with Apple.

So that the commitment to repay debt is truly realized, Indonesia appoints a third party to assess debt repayment documents, and will conduct an audit of all Apple Academys.

Since 2018--2023 or for seven years, Indonesia considers the giant company from the United States to be less obedient in implementing the TKDN extension innovation scheme.