By Manvina Suri and Michelle Toh, CNN
Apple CEO Tim Cook met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, and pledged to invest more in Apple A fast growing economy Where his company intensifies its retail and manufacturing activities.
The visit underscores how the world’s most valuable company continues to shift to India, eyeing its potential as a consumer market and production hub. India is ready to overtake China As the world’s most populous country by the middle of this year, according to data released by the United Nations.
“From education and developers to manufacturing and the environment, we are committed to growth and investment across the country,” Cook said books on Twitter after the meeting.
Modi He said On Twitter, the two exchanged views on a range of topics, including “technology-enabled transformations taking place in India.”
Tim Cook’s strong play: Apple opens its first retail store in India
CEO of Apple In India this week The opening of its first physical stores in the country, marking a milestone for the iPhone maker in the world’s second-largest smartphone market after China.
Cook presided over the opening of the company’s second store in the capital New Delhi on Thursday, following the launch of Apple’s first outlet in Mumbai earlier this week, where he greeted customers and took selfies with employees.
Cook also met other officials including Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnau who chirp Next, the pair discussed “deepening Apple’s involvement in India across manufacturing and electronics exports, [the] The economy of applications, skills, sustainability and job creation especially for women.”
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s deputy information technology minister, said he was optimistic about how well Apple will be able to expand its presence in the country.
“I am very confident that this partnership between Apple and India has a lot of opportunities for investments, growth, exports and jobs – double and triple over the coming years.” Tell Reuters.
Apple declined to comment, while India’s Information Technology Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for details.
Apple’s expansion in India coincides with its 25th year of operation in the country.
The California-based giant is the second largest smartphone maker in the world after Samsung, but its 6% share of the Indian market is still small.
Apple, considered pricey by many consumers in the country, is dwarfed by the top five mobile phone vendors in India, led by Samsung and Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi and Vivo.
The US company’s share is expected to grow, as it continues to strengthen its retail presence in the country and more customers turn to high-end smartphones.
Apple is also ramping up its manufacturing in India, where it first started making iPhones in 2017.
In recent months, it has expanded production there after struggling with supply chain hurdles in mainland China, which accounts for the bulk of smartphone manufacturing.
Two of Apple’s largest suppliers, Foxconn and Wistron, were among the fastest growing manufacturers in India during the last quarter of 2024, according to Counterpoint Research.
Last month, Foxconn CEO Liu Yong also Spent a week in the country and met Modi.
In a statement this week, Apple said it is working with suppliers to “produce an increasing number of components.”
“The company’s work with Indian suppliers of all sizes supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country,” she added.
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