Tim Cook to meet PM Modi: Could be mutually beneficial?

In the past couple of years, several global heads have visited India to meet PM Modi and express their desire for working towards a skilled and digital India. And Tim Cook’s visit would be no different, or at least a part of the meeting could be around what Apple could do towards the ‘Make in India’ initiative. And, looks like Cook has already started his trip with lord Ganesha’s blessings to elevate the falling sales by setting the ball rolling in India . However, unlike other chiefs, Apple’s visit is as discrete as its products before the launch. There are various reports floating online, but none confirming the exact details as to when Cook plans to meet Modi. So, will it be a closed door meeting? Well, let’s wait and watch. After all, there’s a reason that looks above everything else for his India visit – refurbished iPhones. The refurbished iPhone sale rejected by the Indian government is a huge setback for Apple. We’ve done the number crunching before, and there are realms written down (decline in sale, slowing China, India is second largest market and so on) about why once-ignored India is now the ‘apple’ of Tim Cook’s eyes. But with the recent rejection, it was a low blow for Apple who now needs to expand its market, and refurbished phones could pave the way to bring its devices across price brackets. The motive of refurbished devices wasn’t to drive sales, but get users (young, enthusiastic and older alike) to experience the Apple ecosystem. Meanwhile the company planned to strengthen its distribution network, experience stores . And, eventually turn those iPhone adopters into new buyers. However, now, the plan seems to be failing at the root level. [caption id=“attachment_315511” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  File photo from September 2015. Tim Cook with PM Modi. Image Credit: Twitter @NarendraModi[/caption] We had also heard how rivals like Samsung had launched a campaign against Apple’s refurbished devices from entering India. The companies may well say it goes against ‘Made in India’ initiative or may have environmental hazards, but they do know what it would mean as competition if Apple enters the space and starts catering to every price bracket. This explains a lot why Cook-Modi visit could be of prime importance, at least to Cook. It is also possible that Tim Cook’s surprise visit, may have been actually well planned. Now, we may be wrong here, but there is no denying that  the visit comes right after the whole refurbished conundrum. Cook has already announced a startup incubator  in Bengaluru, is said to open a new development centre in Hyderabad and there are reports about local manufacturing in partnership with Foxconn. While all the development from the accelerator and so on, would be a push to Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Cook will want his share of bargain. This could most likely be a slightly tweaked way of selling its refurbished devices in India as it tried to expand its market presence. Apple has big money bags, so investing into development, research, manufacturing and so on, wouldn’t be a daunting task. While Apple could get its numbers going, the Modi government could actually manage to get a good share of bargain its ‘Make in India’ initiative. For customers, it will be a win-win situation.