Apple set to establish official presence in India

Straying from the norm, the stores will be launched in Partnership with Tata-owned consumer electronics chain Croma

Apple is all set to establish an official presence in India, launching six stores between Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Straying from the norm, the stores will be launched in partnership with manufacturing company Tata's consumer electronics chain Croma. Apple devices are already available in India through franchises and other electronics shops, but the Tata contract finally allows them to have an official presence in the country of 1.2 billion people.

Read: Apple sells record 13m iPhones in weekend launch

Although the six locations will be at Croma's own stores and will not be operated by Apple Inc, they will feature the signature design, furniture, fixtures and lighting used in Apple stores worldwide and the staff will be trained by the company itself.

The partnership is in accordance with local laws, which stipulate that foreign investors have to have a local partner to set up shops. Apple was hesitant due to the law but by partenering with an Indian company they may get around the law.

Further, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Apple CEO Tim Cook deliberated the potential relaxation of local laws in a meeting last month reports TOI.

Apple hope to increase their sales in India where 1.7 million iPhones were sold between October 2014 and September 2015, 600,00 more than the previous year. The stores’ opening will coincide with the Indian Diwali festival in November.

Read: MoU signed: Manufacturer of iPhone to invest $5b in India

Last month Apple sold 13 million of its new iPhones in a record-breaking launch for the newest models of its iconic smartphone.

The California tech giant began selling the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus in nine markets, including China, and from this month  the company said the devices will be available in 40 additional markets including Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Taiwan.

Official #AppleStores will finally open their doors in India by next monthhttp://t.co/kGLFssmd1T #Apple #iOS #iPhone6s #iPhone6sPlus

— Pocketnow (@Pocketnow) October 13, 2015

Apple Stores finally coming to India http://t.co/6qlvGhAiL7 pic.twitter.com/0pVrTQIo9J

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) October 12, 2015

This article originally appeared on Independent