The iPhone 16 has been around for quite some time outside of Indonesia, but why has this latest version of the iPhone yet to make its way to Indonesia?
The launch of the iPhone 16 by US tech company Apple last September was met with enthusiasm.
However, the phone has not been traded in Indonesia until now because Apple has not met the government’s local investment target.
The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) emphasized that Apple’s latest mobile phone product, the iPhone 16, cannot be sold in the Indonesian market.
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This is because the giant company from the United States still needs to obtain a certificate of the level of domestic components (TKDN).
Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that the sales permit had not been granted because Apple had yet to fulfil its commitment to realize an investment in Indonesia.
The Minister of Industry said that to obtain a sales permit, the leading company Apple must realize the remaining investment commitment in Indonesia, which amounts to Rp240 billion from a total of Rp1.71 trillion.
However, these phones can enter Indonesia for personal use or through courier services.
As reported by Antara, Ministry of Industry Spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief explained that basically, the iPhone 16 is included in the category of postal and telecommunications goods that can enter Indonesia through the Directorate General of Customs and Excise based on Article 35 of Government Regulation Number 46 of 2021 concerning Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting.
With a note, the number carried should not exceed two units per passenger.
“Adding to the previous statement from the Minister of Industry, the iPhone 16 series that enters Indonesia by being carried by passengers and paying taxes is a carry-on item that may not be traded and is limited to the personal use of passengers,” he said.
Thousands of iPhone 16s have entered Indonesia
The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) expressed concern about 9,000 iPhone 16 units that entered Indonesia between August and October 2024. In fact, the Ministry of Industry has not issued a TKDN certificate for Apple’s latest cellphone product.
Ministry of Industry Spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief said that the ministry estimates that 9,000 units of the iPhone 16 series entered Indonesia through passenger luggage and paid taxes between August and October 2024.
The phones are entered legally but will become illegal if traded in Indonesia.
After Apple released the iPhone 16 series on September 20, 2024, the price of the iPhone 15 in Indonesia began to decline.
However, there is no information regarding the official sales schedule of the iPhone 16 series in Indonesia. This price reduction is proof of optimism that the iPhone 16 will inevitably enter and be traded in Indonesia.
