Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, to discuss ways to enhance local production and iPhone exports. In FY23, Apple exported more than $5 billion in iPhones from India, a record. "It was a delight to meet @tim_cook CEO, @Apple and his team to engage on Apple's strategic and long-term partnership with and in India's digital journey," the minister tweeted.

"We discussed deepening and broadening manufacturing, exports, skilling of youth, expanding the app and innovation economy, and job creation," Chandrasekhar added.

Exports of mobile phones increased from Rs 45,000 crore in FY22 to Rs 90,000 crore in FY23, exceeding the earlier projection of Rs 75,000 crore. The remarkable performance of the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for mobile phones serves as a model for other electronic segments seeking to increase manufacture and exports.

According to Chandrashekhar, the Apple ecosystem in India has created over one lakh new direct manufacturing employment in the previous two years. "About 70% of these are 19-24-year-old women who are starting their careers, learning new skills, and making life easier for their families," he added. Apple began producing iPhones in India in 2017, and the corporation has since collaborated with suppliers to build new iPhone models and produce an increasing number of components.