NEW DELHI— Apple Inc. is discussing with the Indian government the possibility of manufacturing its products in the country, according to two senior government officials, as the company seeks to expand its sales and presence in the South Asian nation.

In a letter to the government last month, the Cupertino, Calif., firm outlined its plans and sought financial incentives to move ahead, the officials told The Wall Street Journal. Senior Trade Ministry authorities in recent weeks met to discuss the matter.

An Apple spokeswoman didn’t respond to requests for comment.

India’s smartphone market is expected next year to overtake that of the U.S. as the world’s second-largest behind China, according to research firm IDC. For years, sales in China fueled Apple’s expansion, but now growth there is slowing.

“Apple wants to emulate its China model in India,” said one of the officials with direct knowledge of the matter. “The company wants financial incentives, which the concerned government departments are looking into,” the official said.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said in May that the company had no plans to set up a factory in India, though the Indian government later said Mr. Cook discussed the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they met in New Delhi.

Under Mr. Modi, India has been eager to attract investment and create the manufacturing facilities and jobs the country needs to sustain long-term growth.

Apple in January said it had sought government permission to open its own stores in India, which analysts say would help it gain exposure in the country.

India’s government in June loosened foreign-direct investment restrictions in several sectors, saying foreign-owned single-brand retailers such as Apple could open stores provided they purchase at least 30% of their manufacturing materials from Indian vendors after three years.

Absent adding a manufacturing base, that could prove a challenge to Apple since there aren’t many high-end phone-part suppliers in India.

The company now sells its devices through a network of Indian-owned distribution companies and retailers.

Most of Apple’s products are assembled in China, primarily by Foxconn Technology Group, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Foxconn didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Several foreign smartphone makers, including Samsung Electronics Co. and China’s Xiaomi Corp., already assemble in India for the local market.

In a sign of the country’s importance to Apple, Mr. Cook visited India in May, where in addition to meeting with Mr. Modi he took in a cricket match and posed for photos with Bollywood stars.

“When you’re buying an iPhone from your neighborhood shop you’re kind of losing some of the value” in terms of seeing Apple’s constellation of products on display and receiving in-store support from trained staff, Mr. Dutt said.

Source: WSJ