Will Narendra Modi ‘Cook’ an ‘Apple’ during his US visit?

Every Indians know his fascination for gadgets. Remember his selfie after the poll last year? Well we are taking about Narendra Modi. Well, a man in love with gadgets would never miss this grand chance of visiting the campus of the god of gadgets , Apple. And if he is the Prime Minister of India, then of course the Apple’s CEO Tim Cook would be glad to meet him.

And that’s what is going to happen. On his debut visit to the Silicon Valley later this month, Modi will meet a dozens of CEOs and think tanks including Cook. A spokesperson of Apple has confirmed to the media, a meeting between Cook and PM Modi will be happening. However, the issue of discussion is still confidential.

After Make in India campaign, Modi’s recent plan of Digital India has certainly grabbed eye balls from around the world.

Also Read: Modi’s Silicon Valley itineary

Modi will be keen to showcase initiatives such as 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' and persuade the Cupertino-based maker of iPhones and iPads to invest in manufacturing and research & development (R&D) in India. Among the items on Cook's wish list could be approval for the company's own stores and dilution of mandatory local sourcing norms.

Having initially ignored the Indian market, Apple is now aware of the potential of this developing nation’s market where Apple's sales of i-Phones has increased by 93% in the third quarter, which is faster than the growth in markets in Greater China which stood at 87%. Apple uses manufacturing facilities of Foxconn which has planned to invest around $5 billion in a manufacturing facility in Maharashtra.

Modi’s wish list
Apart from Cook, Modi will be meeting Mark Zuckerberg , the founder of Facebook at the headquarters of the social media company. He is scheduled to meet Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Adobe Systems Inc President & CEO Shantanu Narayen and look for investments and intensified engagements.