Apple has offered Indonesia $100 million as part of its efforts to overturn the recent ban on iPhone 16 sales in the country, The Wall Street Journal reports. The company has unveiled an investment plan that calls for the $100 million to be used to set up a manufacturing plant in the country.
Earlier this month, Apple offered the country $10 million for lifting the ban. This latest offer is worth ten times that amount, so the company clearly sees Indonesia as an important market. After all, the country is home to 280 million potential smartphone buyers. The Indonesian Ministry of Industry is to consider Apple’s proposal this week.
It all started when Apple fell short of the local investment threshold by about $15 million. Indonesia requires certain devices sold in the country to have at least 40 percent “domestic content.” This percentage can be achieved by using domestic materials, building manufacturing plants, or hiring local workers.
Apple had previously invested about $94 million in the country in various ways, but this was not enough to prevent the ban. The sales suspension also applies to other recently released Apple products, such as the Apple Watch Series 10. The ban does not affect older Apple devices, which are still available for purchase across the country.
Apple has opened several developer academies around the country, but a real production plant would be a great boon for Indonesia. Both Samsung and Xiaomi have already opened factories in the country.
