CEO Tim Cook announces India’s first Apple retail store by 2021

Apple CEO Tim Cook told attendees at Apple’s annual shareholder meeting that the company would start selling its products online in India later in 2020.

Apple announces to open its first official retail store in India in 2021.

The tech firm was waiting for government approval to run the branded stores itself rather than relying on a local partner.

Apple doesn’t want “somebody else to run the brand for us,” Cook explained.

The company has been manufacturing iPhones in India for a while, but sales have had to go through third-party stores.

The country paved the way for Apple’s arrival with a 2018 decision.

It let foreign single-brand retailers like Apple operate stores without getting special permission.

The company hasn’t been a strong seller in India, in part due to high prices that are frequently out of reach.

The market dominated by phone makers with lower-cost hardware like Xiaomi and Samsung.

However, it’s too big a target to ignore.

India is now the second-largest smartphone market, eclipsing the US.

It scores even a small fraction of that audience could do a lot for Apple’s bottom line.

Official stores might help to make it easier to buy Apple gear and giving the company a higher profile.