The iPhone 16 series was launched globally in October but has remained unavailable at Indonesian retailers until now, as the Industry Ministry said the devices failed to meet a 35 percent local content requirement.

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United-States-based tech giant, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita announced on Wednesday that the issuance of local content certificates for Apple could proceed “immediately”.

“Today we have signed an MoU between the Industry Ministry and Apple. As I've said, since the beginning, we predicted the negotiation would not be easy,” he said during a press conference at the ministry’s offices.

Once the local content certificate is issued, Apple’s iPhone 16 still requires a distribution permit from the Communications and Digital Ministry. However, Agus noted that “there’s no reason for the ministry to halt the process [once Apple has] the local content certificate”. 

The Industry Ministry has agreed to Apple’s innovation investment plans for the 2025-2028 period and to its investment commitments for 2023-2029.

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Apple has opted for the innovation investment scheme as an alternative way to meet the local content rules.

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