Negotiations Have Been Completed, The IPhone 16 Will Be Circulating In Indonesia Soon

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita revealed that the iPhone 16 product will be sold soon.

Agus said, Apple Inc. has completed a number of negotiations that have been going on in the last six months.

"With the MoU and the investment value has been agreed upon, so as soon as possible (iPhone 16) can be sold. As soon as possible," Agus said in a press conference at his office, Wednesday, February 26.

Agus assessed that the negotiations were not easy and relatively tough because both parties must maintain their interests. In fact, maintaining the principles. In fact, he had predicted that since 5 months ago the process would not be easy.

"Alhamdulillah, today we have signed an MoU between the Ministry of Industry and Apple. I conveyed that from the start the nego prediction would not be easy and proven until the last second, 15 minutes ago we were still adjusting communication to several items that we could enter into the MoU or what we couldn't enter into the MoU, that was 15 minutes ago," he said.

Apple also still chooses the third scheme option approach in fulfilling its obligation to obtain a TKDN certificate. Fulfillment of the third TKDN scheme or innovation scheme, namely the construction of a training and development center with TKDN rewards.

This means that Apple is still the only product that is allowed to sell imported cellphones without having to build factories in Indonesia. Meanwhile, other brand smartphones currently produce their cellphones in Indonesia through a manufacturing TKDN and software scheme.

Then, Apple has completed its commitment or debt worth 10 million US dollars which is the obligation throughout 2020-2023 as of December 16, 2024.

In fulfilling the mandatory sanctions of Permenperin Number 29 of 2017 concerning TKDN, said Agus, Apple presents a company that is part of the global value chain, namely Luxshare-ICT to produce AirTag in the country.

"The Luxshare-ICT investment for AirTag production is around 150 million US dollars, there is also a commitment that Airtag production (is carried out) in Batam. He will supply 65 percent of AirTag's needs in the world. So, export potential is quite high and there is also part of the commitment that the batteries needed by AirTag are fully supplied from the domestic industry," explained Agus.

Then as part of the commitment to resolve sanctions, Apple is preparing a production line at the company Long Harmony, Bandung, West Java, which will be part of the GVC Apple accessories. Later, the company will produce mesh fabrics.

"Those are apparently the components needed for AirPods Max production," he said.

When asked further when the iPhone 16 could start circulating in Indonesia, the Minister of Industry said it was waiting for the issuance of the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) series.

This is because the TKDN series is one of the conditions that must be met by Apple Inc. so that iPhone 16 products can be sold in the country.

"So, later we will issue the TKDN certificate. We should have issued it before Ramadan, but the one who issued the Komdigi distribution permit (Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs)," he concluded.