Apple to increase its focus on India

According to reports from Bloomberg News on Wednesday, Apple Inc is set to reorganize its international business management, with a greater focus on India. The report cites individuals with knowledge of the matter and reveals that this move will see India being recognized as its own sales region within the company.

In a recent earnings call, the tech giant confirmed India had seen record quarterly revenue, with strong double-digit growth year-over-year. The promotion of Ashish Chowdhary to replace the recently retired Hugues Asseman as head of India, West Asia, Mediterranean, East Europe and Africa, demonstrates Apple’s increased focus on India. Chowdhary will now report directly to Michael Fenger, Apple’s head of product sales.

Apple has been looking to diversify its production sites from China and this increased focus on India is a part of that strategy. Major iPhone supplier Foxconn has also been employing similar strategies, especially after the fresh Covid outbreak in China in 2020, which led to the imposition of strict lockdowns.

Earlier this year, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal revealed that Apple is keen to expand its manufacturing base in India and increase the nation’s share of its global manufacturing from 5-7% to 25%. The company recently launched their latest models from India, reflecting their confidence in the country. Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron are currently manufacturing iPhones in India.

In a recent development, it was announced that Apple phones would be built in a new 300-acre factory in Karnataka, creating around 1 lakh jobs. Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, made the announcement.

Apple’s increased focus on India is expected to bring several advantages for the country, including job creation, investment, and greater access to new technology. India, on the other hand, presents an attractive market for Apple as it is one of the fastest-growing smartphone markets globally. With this renewed focus on India, Apple hopes to grow its market share in the country and continue to diversify its production sites away from China.