An official said that Apple has increased the offer to invest in Indonesia by almost tenfold, reports Economic Times.
In a latest bid with the government to persuade the government to lift its sales ban on the iPhone 16, the US-based tech giant made the offer.
The proposal would see Apple invest almost $100 million in Southeast Asia’s largest economy over two years, an official told the media in terms of anonymity.
According to a media reports, Apple’s previous investment plan of close to $10 million would have involved the company investing in a factory making accessories and components in the city of Bandung, located southeast of Jakarta.
After Apple submitted its increased offer, Indonesia’s ministry of industry is now demanding that the technology behemoth alter its investment plans to focus more on research and development for its smartphones in the country, the official said.
However, the ministry of industry hasn’t made a final decision on Apple’s newest proposal.
Following Apple’s initial proposal, the ministry called for senior company executives to meet minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. But after flying into Jakarta, Apple’s senior executives were told that the minister wasn’t available and so they had to meet with the ministry’s director-general instead.
However, according to a data, Apple till date invested only $95 million in Indonesia.
Apple and the Ministry of Industry didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
