Tim Cook may launch Apple Hyderabad facility on May 19

Cook, who arrives in India tonight and is expected to meet Modi later this week, will also meet officials of key ministries, according to sources. He is likely to inaugurate here on Thursday the Apple’s development centre in which the company has already invested $100 million.

Cook’s visit to India comes at a crucial time as the iPhone maker seeks to cash in on the “huge potential” in the world’s second largest smartphone market. Sources said Cook is expected to discuss matters pertaining to manufacturing in India and the potential of the Indian technology market with the officials.

Apple is focussing on new growth markets like India after posting its first-ever decline in iPhone sales. While its sales in China, its second-largest market after the US, fell 11 per cent, in India iPhone sales were up 56 per cent from a year ago.

The US-based tech giant has also sent in a proposal to the Indian government for selling refurbished phones in India. However, no official call has been made on the matter. 

“Apple team is coming. But we do not know who are the members of that team which is coming on May 19 (Thursday) for the launch of their facility. We are not 100 per cent sure whether Mr Cook will be there or not. We also asked them. We are waiting for the confirmation,” Telangana IT Department Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said.