Tim Cook officially opens the first Indian Apple store

Apple officially opened its first store in India today, located in the Reliance-owned Jio World Drive mall in a launch event graced by CEO Tim Cook.

Previously with only an online presence in the country, the launch is seen as a significant milestone for Apple which has struggled to establish a foothold in the Indian market. Now, Indian consumers have the opportunity to physically interact with and experience Apple's products and services in person.

A second store is also set to open on Thursday in the capital city, Delhi. This is poised to boost its already record-high sales in India through the remainder of the year. These strategic moves by the tech giant including increased production of its iPhone units in India, amid Beijing-Washington supply chain tension underscore the increasing significance of the Indian market for the company.