Apple must sell locally-sourced products to set up stores in India, says government

Apple must sell locally-sourced products to set up stores in India, says government

"It looks like Apple's plans to set up retail stores in India are facing another roadblock"
Just days after Apple's head honcho Tim Cook paid a visit to the country, the trending topic has been the setting up of Apple stores in India.
While some reports stated that Apple planned on opening three stores in India by the end of 2017, recent developments might create some obstacles in this plan.

Apple Store
According to a report by Reuters, Apple must sell at least 30 percent of locally-sourced goods in order to open official Apple stores in the country. This condition is set according to a law directed at foreign retailers. Most Apple products, incidentally, are manufactured in China.

Interestingly enough, a change in the legislation was made last year, which exempted foreign retailers from the rule, provided they were selling high-tech goods. A waiver is also available, provided the company in question has made some suitable investments in state-of-the-art or cutting edge technology. While Apple has applied for the waiver, it has apparently not provided any material on record to justify it.



"It looks like Apple's plans to set up retail stores in India are facing another roadblock"
Just days after Apple's head honcho Tim Cook paid a visit to the country, the trending topic has been the setting up of Apple stores in India. While some reports stated that Apple planned on opening three stores in India by the end of 2017, recent developments might create some obstacles in this plan.


Apple's presence in India is of strategic importance to the Cupertino giant, given the fact that India is the second largest smartphone market in the world. Its current market share in the country is low at just 2 percent. The company is reportedly mulling a collaboration with Reliance Jio. This, in conjunction with Apple's app design and development accelerator in Bengaluru, along with the Maps development office in Hyderabad could fortify its presence in the country. Whether this is enough to allow Apple to set up retail stores in the country is something only time will tell.