Apple CEO Tim Cook starts his day in India by visiting Siddhivinayak Temple

Apple's CEO Tim Cook kicked off his India trip with a pre-dawn visit to the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai where he offered prayers. His visit comes ahead of his meetings later in the day with eminent business personalities such as Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan.

Cook was accompanied to the temple by Apple India head Sanjay Koul and he also ran into Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries Chairman, Anant Ambani, with whom he chatted for a while.


(Image credit: Indian Express)

Later in the day, Apple also announced the setting up of its first iOS App Design and Development Centre in Bengaluru, home of the country's startup scene.

“India is home to one of the most vibrant and entrepreneurial iOS development communities in the world,” Cook said in a press statement. “With the opening of this new facility in Bengaluru, we are giving developers access to tools which will help them create innovative apps for customers around the world.”

The iOS App Design and Development Accelerator is expected to open in early 2017. Apple’s new development centre is an “initiative to support engineering talent and accelerate growth in India’s iOS developer community,” said the company.

Though his official programme has been kept under wraps, word is that Cook is likely to visit Bengaluru, Hyderabad and even Delhi later in the week.

It is also reported that he would meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.