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With Tim Cook set to arrive in Delhi on his first visit as Apple CEO on Tuesday, his diary seems to be full with visits to various places in Gurgaon, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Cook's visit to India comes at a time when the US technology giant is hit by slower growth in global sales of its flagship products – iPhone, iPad and Mac. Here are 5 things to look out for on his visit:
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1. Tim Cook expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. He had met Modi at a Silicon Valley event in the US last September, where they discussed manufacturing plans under Modi's 'Make in India' initiative. "In Delhi, after greeting employees at the Apple's corporate office at One Horizon Centre in Gurgaon, he is expected to visit iZen Store (Apple authorised reseller) in Green Park and the iWorld Store (Apple premium store) in Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj," an Apple source said. (Reuters)
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2. Tim Cook may be launching Apple's first development centre in India on Thursday in Hyderabad, according to officials. The facility will commence operations on one lakh square feet leased space in WaveRock, a building owned by real estate giant Tishman Speyer at Nanakramguda. "Will share a big news with you all day after tomorrow. Suspense till then," tweeted Telangana IT minister K.T. Rama Rao. The US-based firm plans to expand the facility to 2.5 lakh square feet by next year. It will have 2,500 employees, sources said. (AP)
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3. During Tim Cook's visit, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao or his son and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao may make an announcement for allocation of land to Apple for its campus. The company, which has taken the space on lease at WaveRock, is also planning to build its own campus. (PTI)
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4. Tim Cook is expected to meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is trying to attract big ticket investments for his state. (PTI)
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5. According to Vishal Tripathi, research director at global market consultancy firm Gartner, Tim Cook may raise the issue of allowing Apple to import and sell refurbished iPhones at a cheaper price in India. This will give Apple a slot in mid and low-price segment. "The trip signifies how significant Indian market has become for Apple. Cook is coming here to announce technology for the future. If Cook announces concrete plans to set up a manufacturing unit here, this will create more jobs and bring in better competition in the smartphone and other devices market in the low-price segment," Tripathi added. (Reuters)
