As India’s smartphone market rapidly grows, Apple has applied for state approval to open its own retail stores in India, according to a secretary in the country’s government.
Amitabh Kant, secretary at India’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, told Reuters that the Cupertino company has filed an application with the federal trade ministry unit. Apple has also confirmed the news, but stopped short of providing further details.
A major obstacle to the setting up of Apple Stores in India has been national legislation requiring single brand overseas retailers to source 30% of items sold in their stores from Indian producers. However, in November, this restriction was relaxed for such firms offering “cutting-edge technology” goods.
Kant revealed that his department would consider this recent policy change when looking over Apple’s application. Apple certainly has much to gain from expanding its market share in the South Asian country – the smartphone market of which is, according to research company Strategy Analytics, likely to overtake that of the United States in 2017.
