Tech giant Apple has announced that the iPhone 16 will be available in Indonesia from next month. This means the ban on sales in Southeast Asia's largest economy has been lifted.

In October, the government banned the launch and sale of the model because the US tech giant had failed to comply with a requirement that 40 per cent of the phones be made from local parts.

However, last month Apple struck a deal with the Indonesian government to invest in the 280-million-strong country after months of stagnation, AFP reports.

"Today, Apple announces that all iPhone 16 series models will be available starting Friday, April 11," the company said in a statement.

This month, the ministry said it had approved local certifications for more than 12 Apple products.

Last week, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technology said Apple had also received a certificate required for all telecommunications devices with transmission.

In November, Jakarta rejected a $100 million investment proposal from Apple. It said it lacked the "fairness" required by the government.

Apple later agreed to invest $150 million to build two facilities - one in Bandung in West Java province for accessories manufacturing and another in Batam for AirTags.

Last month, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita explained that Apple had also committed to building a semiconductor research and development centre in Indonesia. He called it "the first of its kind in Asia".

Despite the ban on selling iPhones in Indonesia, the government has allowed the importation of the devices if they are not sold commercially.

Indonesia also banned the sale of Google Pixel phones because they did not meet the 40% domestic parts requirement. | BGNES