In a surprising development, Indonesia has made it illegal to use and sell Apple’s iPhone 16. The announcement was made by Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. He clarified that anyone with an iPhone 16 in hand will be considered illegal. He also warned buyers against purchasing the device. The latest announcement has left tourists perplexed as they remain confused about their planned visits to Indonesia.

Why did Indonesia ban iPhone 16?

Explaining the reason for the ban, Kartasasmita said that the iPhone 16 does not have the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) certification for use in Indonesia.

Kartasasmita said the Industry Ministry was unable to issue permits for the iPhone 16 because Apple had not fulfilled its obligations. Apple had committed an investment of 1.71 trillion rupees, but fell short of 230 billion rupees ($14.75 million). Reports indicate that the tech giant has invested around 1.48 trillion rupees (around $95 million) so far.

Earlier this month, Kartasasmita hinted that the Southeast Asian country could ban the sale of the iPhone 16 given the ongoing TKDN certification, which requires 40% of the product’s content sources to be provided at the national level. The certification is crucial for the tech giant as it ties into the company’s commitment to establishing Apple Academy, the R&D center in Indonesia.