JakartaPost-Apr 17, 2024
Apple Inc. was looking to build a manufacturing facility in Indonesia, the United States tech giant’s CEO Tim Cook told a press conference on Wednesday, after a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta. “We talked about the President’s desire to see manufacturing in the country and it’s something we will look at,” Cook said as he acknowledged that Indonesia’s market potential was “very important” for Apple. While he did not confirm any investment plans, Cook emphasized, “I think the investment ability in Indonesia is endless and there’s a lot of great places to invest. We believe in the country.” Most Apple products are made in China, and the company is seeking to diversify its supply chain to other countries, such as Vietnam, Thailand and India, after Beijing’s strict COVID-19 restrictions disrupted its shipments during the pandemic, among other reasons. Cook’s visit to Jakarta followed a two-day trip to Vietnam, where he met programmers and Apple users as to underscore its commitment to strengthening local supply chain connections. Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, who attended Cook’s meeting with Jokowi, expressed his hope that if Apple decided to build a local factory, it would have the capacity to meet export demand. Alternatively, he suggested that Apple consider partnering with domestic manufacturers to absorb locally made components, including an offer to facilitate business matchmaking to find suitable local partners. Indonesia contributes 45 percent of the Southeast Asian market for Apple products, according to the Communications and Information Ministry. Read more at:
