Apple may have its own retail outlets in India after all, as the government has made changes to requirements hindering the company's progress. Rules that force retailers to source at least 30 percent of its products from within the country have been eased, giving Apple and other major companies with their own retail presence the ability to open stores in India, without having to worry about fulfilling the requirement for a while.
Rumored earlier this month,
Bloomberg reports the government announced a "raft of measures" to help multinational retailers. The key change is that a single brand retailer has a three-year grace period before needing to fulfill the 30-percent local produce policy. Apple also stands a chance at getting "another five years" if they can prove they are selling "cutting edge" technology to citizens.
Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advised Apple does need to re-apply for permission, but did not state whether Apple qualifies under the basic grace period or the "cutting edge" extension. A previous application was approved by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, providing it an exemption to the rule, but the Ministry of Finance then shot down the exemption since it wouldn't encourage manufacturing and the creation of jobs.
While it looks as if Apple will soon get its stores in the country, one aspect will still most likely not appear at retail. A proposal for Apple to
refurbish iPhones for resale in India at a cheaper cost, one that would allow Apple to compete against cheaper rivals in the country, was refused by the government last month. Sitharaman claimed the government was "not in favor of any company selling used phones in the country, however certified they may be."
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