After banning the sale of iPhone 16 within the country, the same order has been issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Indonesia for the sale and marketing of Pixel smartphones made by Google. Indonesia is making these decisions to increase local production and reduce dependence on imported technology.
According to news agency Reuters, the sale of the Pixel phone has been banned because Google did not use at least 40 percent local ingredients in the phone's manufacturing as required by the country's law.
According to Indonesian law, if a foreign company wants to sell its products in the country, it must buy at least 40 percent of parts or components from local companies in the production of those products. Both Apple and Google have not complied with this law. Therefore, the country banned the sale and marketing of the two companies' phones.
Fabri Hendri Anthony Arif, spokesman for Indonesia's Ministry of Industry, said, 'We are making these policies to ensure fairness for all investors in Indonesia. Google products are not compatible with our laws. So they cannot be sold here.
He also said, 'This law was made to protect the interests of the country's investors. Google's smartphone makers didn't follow that rule. Therefore, it has been decided to ban the sale and marketing of Google Pixel phones in the country.
However, buyers can buy Google Pixel smartphones from abroad and bring them to the country by paying the necessary duties. But authorities have warned that phones sold illegally in Indonesia may have to be stopped.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the sale of any iPhone 16 in Indonesia is 'illegal' and asked citizens to report any sales of the device. The move is related to the country's 'Domestic Component Level (TKDN') certification, which obliges companies to include at least 40 percent local ingredients in their products.
Apple's TKDN certification is pending, as the company has not completed investment in local research and development facilities. The Ministry of Industry has stopped the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) certification required for the iPhone 16. As a result, the device is illegal to sell and use in Indonesia.
Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Indonesia last April. The new iPhone 16 is not available in Indonesia, despite President Joko Widodo and Tim Cook discussing possible iPhone production plans. Also, other new Apple products such as the Apple Watch Series 10 are not being sold there.
