The Apple iPhone 6, the last of its kind in Indonesia?
Get used to your current iPhones, because soon you might not be able to find the latest model of Apple’s flagship smartphone in Indonesian stores.
The Ministry of Communications and Information, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Trade have all agreed to set a policy allowing only smartphones with at least 40% of their components made in Indonesia to be sold in the country starting in 2017.
“If less than 40%, the Ministry of Trade will not issue its trade permit,” said Minister of Communications and Information Rudiantara today, as quoted by Warta Kota.
The Apple iPhone is one brand of smartphone that would not meet the 40% requirement.
“iPhone must comply whether they like it or not. Otherwise we won’t issue its permit. This applies to all [smartphone] vendors,” Rudiantara said.
Specifically, the policy applies to all 4G-capable smartphones being imported into Indonesia starting January 1, 2017.
So one way for Apple to keep selling the iPhone in Indonesia would be to have at least 40% of the phone’s components made in Indonesia. Or, better yet, build an iPhone factory here.
Otherwise we’ll be seeing a lot of Apple fanboys and girls stuck with the iPhone 5 in Indonesia (or going over to Singapore to buy the latest model).
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