Tim Cook to open first Apple Stores in India in pivot beyond China

A man walks past the barricade of India’s first Apple retail store, that will be launched soon, at Jio World Drive Mall, Mumbai, India. — Reuters

Apple Inc chief executive officer Tim Cook has scheduled a trip to open the iPhone maker’s first stores in India next week, underscoring the company’s ambitions for the country as a growth market and manufacturing base.

Cook is likely to preside over the opening of the twin outlets in India’s financial and political capital, people familiar with the matter said, asking to remain anonymous discussing private plans. Apple said Tuesday it’ll open a store in Mumbai on April 18 and another in New Delhi on April 20.