Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday, 10 June congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in India's history, thanking him for championing innovation policies that benefit citizens. Cook's message, posted on X, underscores the deepening ties between the world's most valuable technology company and India's political and economic leadership.

Cook's Message to Modi

In his post on X, Cook wrote: 'Congratulations on becoming the longest serving prime minister elected in India's history, and thank you for supporting innovation that enriches people's lives.' The gesture is notable given Apple's rapidly expanding footprint in India — the company opened its sixth retail store in the country earlier this year and has flagged India as among its highest-priority growth markets globally.

Modi's Response

Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the outpouring of wishes in a post on X, saying he was 'deeply touched by the good wishes conveyed by people from all walks of life.' He added: 'While I may not have been able to respond to each message individually, I cherish every greeting conveyed. I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve Bharat and contribute to our nation's development journey.' Modi further reaffirmed his commitment, noting that 'the people of India have repeatedly voted for stability, good governance and development,' and pledging to work toward the vision of a Viksit Bharat for 140 crore Indians.

Apple's India Growth Story

Cook's congratulatory note comes against the backdrop of Apple's strong India performance. During an analysts' call following the company's January–March quarter results, Cook revealed that Apple set March quarter revenue records in both developed and emerging markets, with double-digit growth in nearly every emerging market it tracks — explicitly naming India. He described India as 'the second largest smartphone market in the world and the third-largest PC market,' adding that despite strong performance, Apple still holds a 'modest share,' which he views as a significant opportunity.

Cook also highlighted that the majority of Apple customers across categories — iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Watch — in India are new to those products, signalling strong installed-base expansion potential. 'Net-net, I'm over the moon excited about India,' Cook said, pointing to a rising middle class as a key demand driver.

Strategic Context

This comes amid a broader shift in Apple's global supply chain strategy, with the company accelerating manufacturing investments in India through partners such as Tata Electronics and Foxconn. The Modi government's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics has been widely credited with attracting Apple's expanded India manufacturing commitments. Cook's public acknowledgement of Modi's role in 'supporting innovation' is consistent with the company's sustained diplomatic and commercial engagement with New Delhi. Notably, Cook visited India in 2023 — Apple's first CEO visit in years — and personally inaugurated stores in Mumbai and New Delhi.

With Apple eyeing deeper localisation and India's smartphone upgrade cycle still in early stages, the relationship between Cupertino and New Delhi is set to intensify further.