Apple Stores to open in India provided government exempts company from sourcing norms

Seems like Apple has indeed found a way out of the mandatory domestic sourcing norm (at 30 percent) that kept the company from opening up its own branded Apple Stores in the county. According to the Times of India, the policy change that took place last year and Apple’s recent presentation to the industrial policy and promotion secretary Ramesh Abhishek seems to have had a positive outcome. The policy changed in November 2015, allowing companies like Apple to seek an official government exempt for the complete waiver of sourcing norms. These would include ‘state-of-the-art’ and ‘cutting-edge technology’ as well. On Tuesday, TOI points out that Apple gave a presentation to the committee where the Cupertino tech giant pressed for the special provision. The same indicates that Apple really fits the case, because there was very little that the company could source from the country that is limited to some chargers that are currently being exported to markets like China. The results of the same will be announced in a few days. Turns out even Xiaomi and LeEco have also submitted proposals, but the same are on hold at the moment. Until the Apple Stores arrive, the company will continue to sell via its distributors in India. As for the the company’s plans to sell refurbished smartphones , in the country, it said that it has no intentions of starting the same anytime soon.