Cook meets Modi, explores manufacturing, retailing in India

New Delhi, May 21: Breaking his silence on being an integral part of the Make in India initiative, Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed at length with Prime Minister rendra Modi the possibilities of manufacturing and retailing Apple devices in the country as the two met here on a sweltering hot Saturday.

Cook not only shared Apple's future plans for India but also appreciated the breadth of young talent in the country, saying the youth here have significant skills which Apple would like to tap.

The 55-year-old head of Cupertino-based tech giant told Modi about the immense potential for "app-development" that exists in the country, elaborating on the Map Development Centre that Apple is setting up in Hyderabad, a statement from Prime Minister's Office said.

"He appreciated the prime minister’s initiatives in ease of doing business,” the statement added.

On his part, Modi explained his Digital India initiative and identified its three key objectives as e-education, health and increasing farmers' incomes. "Modi sought support from Apple in these objectives," it read.

Congratulating the prime minister on the recent assembly election results where the Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) won for the first time in Assam, Cook told Modi that he had been received with great warmth.

He spoke about his visit to different parts of the country and his meetings with the people including youth, business leaders and film actors. In particular, he mentioned his visit to the the famous Siddhiviyak Temple in Mumbai and watching a cricket match.

Modi told him that in India, “seeing is believing” and added that these experiences would definitely steer Cook’s business decisions for the country.

Issues regarding cyber security and data encryption also came up for discussion. The prime minister encouraged Cook to help the global community to cope with the challenges of cyber crime.

The Apple CEO also appreciated the prime minister’s initiatives for renewable energy, saying that Apple runs on 93 percent renewable energy and it will move entire supply chain to renewable energy soon.

Delegation members accompanying Cook also spoke of their experiences in rural Rajasthan where several villages have recently been electrified and women are being skilled to assemble and operate solar energy equipment.

Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives Lisa P. Jackson, who reports directly to Cook, visited the non-profit The Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, this week.