Indonesia’s government has expressed concerns over Apple’s US$100 million investment proposal, as the country has blocked the sale of the iPhone 16 locally, citing the tech giant’s non-compliance with content requirements for smartphones.

Industry minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said Monday that Apple’s proposal lacks the “fairness” the government seeks, viewing this amount as insufficient compared to the tech giant’s other international investments.

Apple has invested more than 244 trillion rupiah (US$15.3 billion) in Vietnam, where it annually sells about 1.5 million units. In Indonesia, where annual sales reach approximately 2.5 million units, Apple’s investments stand at around 1.5 trillion rupiah (US$94.5 million), with a focus on developer academies.

However, Kartasasmita said this amount remains below expectations. The minister also mentioned Apple’s pending delivery of US$10 million from a pledged 1.7 trillion rupiah (US$107.1 million) in 2023.

The government is pressing Apple to form a negotiation team to discuss investment plans. Kartasasmita insisted on prioritizing the establishment of a manufacturing facility in Indonesia to boost local industries.

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