Hyderabad: Apple CEO Tim Cook will visit India later this week and is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the iPhone maker seeks to cash in on the “huge potential” in the world’s second largest smartphone market. He is also likely to visit Hyderabad.
Mr Cook is expected to discuss matters pertaining to manufacturing in India and the potential of the Indian technology market, according to sources. However, Apple declined to comment on his schedule when contacted. The Apple CEO’s visit comes at a crucial time when the US-based firm is focusing on new growth markets like India after posting its first-ever decline in iPhone sales.
In an interview earlier this month, Mr Cook had said Apple sees a “huge market potential” for its products in India and that it is “really putting energy” in the country. Apple has sent in a proposal to the Centre for selling refurbished phones in India. No official call has been made.
Cook to visit India to boost sales
Mr Cook’s visit, following a trip to China, comes at a crucial time as Apple looks for new growth markets after posting its first ever decline in iPhone sales, and as India has denied it permission to sell refurbished phones — a move seen as key to appealing to price-sensitive local consumers.
However when Apple spokesperson in India was contacted by this newspaper he refused to confirm the visit. “We neither deny that Apple CEO Tim Cook is coming to India nor we confirm it,” said Apple spokesperson.
With no official confirmation about Mr Cook’s schedule available, there was some confusion about his arrival date. A report by Reuters suggested that Mr Cook will meet Mr Modi on Tuesday, while Indian news agency PTI claimed that the Apple CEO would be visit India later this week.
Though he is also expected to meet employees and partners, all the details were kept secret. If he happens to visit India later this week, there is a possibility of Mr Cook visiting Hyderabad as Apple is scheduled to inaugurate its R&D centre in the city.
During their meeting with Mr Cook, government officials may try to find out if Apple plans to set up factories in India for the local market. “If they can make in China to cater to the Chinese market then they can make for Indian markets here,” said Reuters quoting its source.
The Apple CEO’s visit comes at a crucial time when the US-based firm is focusing on new growth markets like India after posting its first-ever decline in iPhone sales.
In an interview earlier this month, Mr Cook had referred to a huge market potential for its products in India and that it is really putting energy in the country.
Addressing analysts in a conference call, Mr Cook had said that India presents a “really great opportunity” but slow networks and the informal retail structure across the country is holding the company back from realising its full potential.
While its sales in China, its second-largest market after the United States, fell 11 per cent, in India iPhone sales were up 56 per cent from a year ago. “But I view India as where China was maybe seven to ten years ago. From that point of view, and I think there’s a really great opportunity there,” Apple’s top official had said.
