Apples Tim Cook is in Singapore for the ultimate leg of his whirlwind tour of Southeast Asia because the CEO focuses on the region to expand and boost revenue growth amid difficulties in China.
Cook confirmed his arrival in Singapore on his official X account (formerly referred to as Twitter) on Thursday, posting a video of himself with a neighborhood photographer at the town's famous tourist attraction Gardens by the Bay.
According to anonymous sources quoted in a Bloomberg reportCook's visit will last until Friday and can include a gathering with the city-state's next prime minister, Lawrence Wong, and incumbent Lee Hsien Loong. Lee will officially step down on May 15 after 20 years as head of presidency. Wong becomes Singapore's fourth prime minister.
Cook's arrival in the town follows Apple's announcement plans is investing over $250 million in its Singapore operations. While the tech giant already employs 3,600 people within the country, Apple said the expansion will make room for brand new roles, including in artificial intelligence.
The country serves as a regional hub for the Cupertino, California-based tech giant, with critical roles in software, hardware, services and support, the corporate said.
The meeting with the prime minister is predicted to mark the conclusion of Cook's tour of Southeast Asia, during which the CEO stopped in Vietnam to satisfy with Apple developers and users, and in Indonesia, where he met with President Joko Widodo.
Bloomberg reported that Cook's schedule is filled with public activities to drum up interest within the brand, which could pave the best way for a more aggressive regional sales campaign.
Apple didn’t immediately reply to a CNBC request for comment about Cook's itinerary.
This yr the corporate began has a web-based Apple Store in Vietnam allegedly has hired employees for its first retail center in Malaysia.
Increased business in Southeast Asia could help offset the corporate's recent headwinds. Figures released Monday by International Data Corporation showed global iPhone shipments fell 10% year-on-year in the primary quarter because of increasing competition in China.
Smartphone sales have also been weak in China, Apple's largest overseas market, in comparison with Southeast Asia, where sales boomed in the beginning of the yr.
According to Canalys data, the region's phone market is predicted to grow 7% year-on-year in 2024, significantly faster than the remaining of the world's 3% growth.
Cook has also used his recent travels to focus on Southeast Asia as a crucial manufacturing location.
The company has been pushing to diversify its supply chain beyond its headquarters in China since 2022, when it experienced pandemic-related supply disruptions.
Vietnam has already developed into a crucial production location in consequence of diversification efforts. Meanwhile, Cook said on Wednesday that the corporate would “review” production in Indonesia.
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