Govt deliberates on Apple’s investment plan

Jakarta (ANTARA) –
The Ministry of Industry has internally discussed an investment plan proposal submitted by US technology giant Apple.

“Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita held an internal meeting to discuss the proposal,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Febri Hendri Antoni Arif, informed in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to him, the new proposal outlines an investment of US$100 million for two years, which will be used for the research and development center program and professional developer academy.

Arif also shared Apple’s plan to produce accessory product components, specifically the AirPods Max mesh, from July 2025 in Bandung, which is part of the global supply chain for Apple products.

Apple also plans to build an Apple Academy in Bali and Jakarta, he informed.

During the limited meeting, the ministry considered whether the investment value offered by Apple is fair when compared to other investment destination countries such as Vietnam and India.

The ministry also deliberated on whether the proposal would be fair for other investors in the mobile phone, handheld computer, and tablet segments in Indonesia because other manufacturers besides Apple are also investing and utilizing the Indonesian market.

Earlier, Apple’s latest product, the iPhone 16, whose sale was officially launched on September 20, 2024, could not enter the Indonesian market because the smartphone did not meet the 40 percent domestic component level (TKDN) requirement.

According to the Ministry of Industry, only products with TKDN and company benefit weight above 40 percent can be sold in Indonesia.

The rule especially applies to the procurement of goods and services by the government, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), or private companies using the state budget, regional budget, or resources controlled by the state.

Earlier, deputy chairperson of Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri, said that Apple’s minimal contribution to the Indonesian economy shows a lack of corporate social responsibility toward the country where it rakes in huge profits.

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