Apple CEO, Tim Cook’s first visit to India as the head of the tech giant will mark with him inaugurating the Apple’s Hyderabad facility and the probable announcement of a manufacturing unit in the country on 19 May.
This comes at a time when the sales of its iPhones have fallen for the first time since they were first introduced. But on a flipside, sales has picked up in India although it captures a tiny per cent in the vast Indian market where the budget phones (ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000) have been dominating. Recently, Apple also came in news after India rejected Apple’s request to import and sell refurbished iPhones.
Cook is expected to meet Telangana CM, Chandrashekar Rao and Information Technology minister, KT Rama Rao (KTR) in Hyderabad. After Hyderabad, he is travelling to Delhi where is appointed to meet PM Narendra Modi and discuss investment plans in the country which is going to be in line with PM’s ‘Make in India’ campaign.
Foxconn, Apple’s largest global manufacturing partner, has already signed a joint-venture with the Adani Group to manufacture Apple products in the country and this aligns properly with Apple’s plan to set up its first retail, brand-owned outlet in the country.
After USA, China is Apple’s second largest market when it comes to its iProducts and with both markets seeing a sale downfall this could be the chance for Apple to redirect its focus for India and maybe have products which are compatible with the ecosystem in the country. Currently, the cheapest iPhone that is available in the country is iPhone SE which is selling for Rs 37,990.
Cook, in a conference call with investors, describing India’s potential said: “Because the smartphones that are working there (India) are low end, primarily because of the network and the economics, the market potential has not been as great. But I view India where China was seven to 10 years ago. From that point of view, I think there’s a really great opportunity there.”
