Indonesia just banned the sale of Google Pixel phones days after it happened same with iPhone 16 devices. The reason remains the same: the company failed to deliver 40% local content, so its units will not be able to get certification to operate in the Asian country.
Local media outlet Kontan reported that 22,000 Pixels had already arrived in the country through personal shipments or hand luggage, a Ministry of Industry spokesperson said after a press conference.
40% of local content should be provided by manufacturing products locally, developing software locally or setting up R&D centers locally. Some analysts believe that Indonesia applies such restrictive policies to obtain greater investment from foreign companies.
Currently, Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, with a GDP of over $1 trillion. It is a major growth market for smartphone sales, and it is expected that the country could have up to 350 million active mobile phones, far more than the country’s 285. million inhabitants.