Apple on Tuesday announced that its first-ever retail store in India will open on April 18 at the Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai. A second one, at the Select Citywalk mall in Saket, Delhi, will be launched on April 20.

“These new retail locations mark a significant expansion in India that will offer great new ways to browse, discover, and buy Apple products with exceptional service and experiences for customers,” Apple said in a press note.
The iPhone maker on Tuesday revealed the barricade for Apple Saket, which takes inspiration from Delhi’s many gates to signify a new chapter to the city’s storied past.

To celebrate the first Apple Store opening in India, Apple BKC announced a special series called ‘Mumbai Rising’. The company will bring visitors, local artists, and creatives together for sessions that will offer hands-on activities with Apple products and services and celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai.

ET had earlier reported that Apple’s Mumbai retail store is expected to open its gates to the public this month.

The iPhone maker has also signed a lease agreement that prohibits nearly two dozen technology, electronics and ecommerce brands from having any kind of presence near its soon-to-be-inaugurated store in the Reliance Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai.

According to the lease agreement accessed by data analytic firm CRE Matrix, the company has specified 22 brands including Amazon, Facebook, Google, LG, Microsoft, Sony and Twitter that are to be kept out of its “exclusive zone”. This will include stores, hoardings and advertisements.

Other brands on the list are Bose, Dell, Devialet, Foxconn, Garmin, Hitachi, HP, HTC, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, Nest, Panasonic and Toshiba.

Apple has signed a lease for over 11 years with a 15% rent escalation provision every three years. The company will pay around Rs 42 lakh per month for about 20,800 sq ft of space as a minimum guarantee, in addition to 2% of revenue share for 36 months, and 2.5% after that.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook is likely to visit India this month for the launch of the Mumbai store, ET reported on April 6.

Cook will also discuss strategic issues such as manufacturing expansion and exports from India with key ministers. If the visit does take place, it could possibly include a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources told us.

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