After visiting Jokowi, Tim Cook immediately met Prabowo

Apple CEO Tim Cook met Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto after meeting President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace.

DOKUMENTASI KEMENTERIAN KOMUNIKASI DAN INFORMATIKA

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024. Earlier on the same day, Cook met with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Apple will build four academies in Bali, Batam, Surabaya, and South Tangerang. The total investment value amounts to IDR 1.6 trillion.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Apple CEO Tim Cook met the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto for about an hour at the Ministry of Defense, Wednesday (17/4 /2024) afternoon. This meeting was held after Cook met President Joko Widodo at the Palace in the morning.

"The meeting between Tim Cook and Mr. Prabowo took place for about an hour since 1:00 PM," said Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi after the meeting. Budi accompanied Prabowo in the meeting together with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, Donny Ermawan Taufanto."

Cook was present with Apple's leadership team. They included Vice President for Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson; Head of Global Government Affairs Nick Amma; Head of Government Affairs APAC Elizabeth Hernandez; and Government Affairs for SEA Mirza Natadisastra.

According to Budi, the meeting took place in a friendly and amicable manner. Cook, on that occasion, conveyed plans for investment and the Apple Academy in Indonesia. "Indonesia is an attractive and potential country for Apple," Budi quoted Cook as saying.

DOKUMENTASI KEMENTERIAN KOMUNIKASI DAN INFORMATIKA

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/4/2024). Prior to that, on the same day, Cook met with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Apple will build four academies, located in Bali, Batam, Surabaya, and Tangerang Selatan. The total investment value amounts to Rp 1.6 trillion.

Prabowo, according to Budi, welcomed the discussion and good intentions of Apple to invest in Indonesia. Prabowo hopes that Apple's investment can be carried out well in Indonesia and on time.

"Pak Prabowo said that Indonesia is very welcome with Apple's commitment to contributing to Indonesia's progress," said Budi.

Meanwhile, referring to the press release from the Ministry of Defense, Prabowo received Cook in his office from 12.45 until 13.50. The meeting discussed various topics, specifically about the collaboration between Apple and the Indonesian government.

"Thank you, it is an honor for me to meet you," said Prabowo.

In an official letter addressed to Prabowo dated March 21, Cook expressed appreciation for the opening of three Apple development academies in Surabaya, Jakarta, and Batam.

"The government's vision and commitment to supporting skill development and innovation are reflected in the extraordinary quality of nearly 2,000 graduates to date. Looking forward, I am confident that we will be able to open more successful collaborations between Indonesia and Apple," wrote the Team.

PHOTO BY BAY ISMOYO / AFP

Apple CEO Tim Cook (center) along with Communication and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi (right) and Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita spoke at a press conference after meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/4/2024).

Earlier, Tim Cook met President Joko Widodo at the Palace. Accompanying the President were Minister Coordinator for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasmita, and Budi Arie.

As for the industry, Agus stated that in 2023, the production of mobile phones in Indonesia will reach 50 million units, with import numbers of 2.79 million units. Of those import numbers, 80% are Apple phones.

Therefore, Indonesia is interested in creating added value. The Ministry of Communication and Information has had a regulation since 2021 stating that 35 percent of mobile phone, computer, and tablet (HKT) products in Indonesia must have a domestic component level (HTKD) of 35 percent.

Apple has a unique way of calculating TKDN, namely based on investment in building developer education infrastructure through the Apple Developer Academy.