MUMBAI – Here is a good news for the fans of iPhones and iPads in India. According to a report in Economic Times, Apple Inc is planning to launch its stores in India, if the government eases local sourcing conditions.
Economic Times has quoted two senior executives who have business relations with the California-based company in India. According to them, IT outsourcing operations of Apple in India are to be included as part of the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing requirement. Apple as of now, is outsourcing software application development and maintenance work of nearly $100 million to Indian software companies.
However, Apple responded negatively to the news. “We don’t comment on rumors and speculation,” company spokesperson has told ET.
India has never been a priority market for Apple and it took months for any new Apple device to reach the Indian authorized retail stores. Even the CEO, Tim Cook has said that he doesn’t see much business in India, even though he loves the country.
But according to the executive, who spoke to ET, Apple is now interested in the country. “Undoubtedly, Apple is interested in setting up its own stores now that the demand for its product has increased. But it wants some flexibility in the 30 per cent sourcing norms. At present, it does not buy anything from India nor is it likely to source anything immediately, apart from IT services,” he said.
Any way until then, the only option for an Indian Apple fan is to buy the devices from some Indian telecom operators, who bundle it with poor contracts, or buy it from the vast Indian grey markets.
