Tim Cook, ahead of his visit to India during which the Apple CEO is expected to take the wraps off the company’s first flagship retail store in the country in Mumbai, has said that the Cupertino giant is “excited” to be building on its 25-year history of doing business in India.

What Happened? Cook is set to launch stores and meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business leaders to discuss the company's growing commitment to India during his visit to the country this week.

"At Apple, our mission is to enrich lives and empower people around the world," Cook said in a statement first published by TechCrunch on Sunday.

"India has such a beautiful culture and an incredible energy, and we're excited to build on our long-standing history — supporting our customers, investing in local communities and working together to build a better future with innovations that serve humanity," Cook added.

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Apple has expressed optimism about the potential for growth in India, despite the majority of smartphones sold in the country being priced below ₹20,000. While India accounts for a small portion of Apple's overall revenue, the company says that the new retail stores “mark a major expansion.”

The Cupertino giant has also been actively recruiting employees in recent months to prepare for the store openings, and the company had initially planned to open its first retail location in 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay.

In addition to launching stores in India, Apple is working to turn the country into a key global hardware manufacturing hub, thanks to incentives offered by New Delhi to manufacturers to expand their presence in the country.

Read next: Apple On Course To Produce One-Quarter of All iPhones In India By 2025 As Production Figures Triple Over Past Year