On Monday, Apple announced the opening of its first two stores in India, marking a significant expansion plan for the company. The stores, located in Mumbai and Delhi, have been designed to resonate with the local look and feel. The Mumbai store will open on April 18, with the Delhi store following on April 20.
According to the company, the move comes as it celebrates over 25 years in India, and represents a key milestone in the rapidly growing community of Indian developers. Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “India has such a beautiful culture and an incredible energy, and we are excited to build on our long-standing history – supporting our customers, investing in local communities, and working together to build a better future with innovations that serve humanity.”
Apple’s exports from India are estimated to have crossed USD 5 billion in the financial year 2022-23, which is approximately half of the total exports of “Made in India” phones. The company began manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 through its contract manufacturers, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.
The company also highlighted its work with Indian suppliers of all sizes and its one-on-one work with developers at the iOS App Design and Development Accelerator in Bengaluru. “India’s vibrant community of app developers now supports more than 1 million jobs. A testament to the tremendous growth of developers in India, App Store payouts to developers in the country have more than tripled since 2018,” the statement added.
Overall, Apple’s expansion into India is a significant move for the company as it seeks to tap into the country’s growing smartphone market. With its focus on supporting local communities, investing in local suppliers, and working with local developers, Apple is well positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for technology products and services in India.
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