Apple is going ahead with its plan to hire employees for upcoming physical stores in India giving credence to earlier anticipation about the tech giant's expansion plan in the country, which is one of the largest smartphone markets in the world.

So far, the Indian market is largely dominated by Chinese companies such as Xiaomi and Vivo. The launch of Apple's first India store shows the company's broader retail push in the country, where there are many contenders for shares. The market is relatively small compared to the country's size and population. 

In a big blow to the company, China last year completely shut down iPhone's production hub in China.

According to reports, the tech giant currently has a dozen live job listings for brick-and-mortar stores at locations across the South Asian country. At least, five people confirmed that they've been hired to work at upcoming stores via posts on LinkedIn.

The company's inaugural brick-and-mortar store is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2023 amid delays. Apple's flagship store is coming up at a 22,000-square-foot store at an upscale shopping mall.

The firm, however, didn't disclose about the timing for the opening of its first brick-and-mortar store in India.

Apple started making iPhones in India in 2017, and it began manufacturing the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 in the South Asian country last year.

CEO Tim Cook, who announced plans for an Apple store in India in February 2020, had earlier said he's a "huge believer" in the opportunities India presents as the world's second most populous country.