New Delhi: Former Union Minister Smriti Irani with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at a session during the 'Future Forward' event, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (IANS)
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) India is not just building digital innovations to empower its citizens but also creating solutions that have the potential to transform global health and development, Bill Gates, Chair and Board Member of the Gates Foundation, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a global forum here, hosted by the CII in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and the Women’s Collective Forum, the billionaire philanthropist applauded India’s leadership in innovation, health and sustainability.
The forum brought together global industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to accelerate India’s role in driving scalable, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions for global challenges.
Gates highlighted that India is building the future with its pioneering role in affordable healthcare, AI-powered diagnostics, and digital public infrastructure.
He reinforced the importance of scaling India’s innovative solutions globally to address pressing challenges in emerging economies.
Gates also highlighted India’s rapid advancements, calling its digital ecosystem, inclusive economic growth, and technological breakthroughs a model for the world.
“India has made significant progress in health and development through low-cost innovations,” he added.
Looking ahead, Gates reaffirmed his Foundation’s commitment to working alongside Indian innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to scale breakthroughs in AI, healthcare, and sustainable development globally.
Smriti Irani, Chairperson, Alliance for Global Good Gender Equity and Equality, commended the Foundation and the leadership of Gates "for putting money where it really matters", while highlighting the critical role of investment for social innovation.
Calling it "a transformative force that reshapes societies", Irani spoke about the power of India in bringing forward low cost, tech-enabled solutions which are addressing critical global challenges of health, nutrition and food security, among others.
Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, emphasised India’s pioneering role in digital public infrastructure, calling it a blueprint for the Global South.
"The success of initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat health programme and digital financial inclusion, AI-powered agricultural solutions, proves that when policy and technology align, we can create scalable, sustainable solutions that serve as global benchmarks," Sanjiv Puri, CII President, added.
Working to make a better future for coming generations: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to shaping a better future for the next generations after his meeting with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.
Responding to the social media post by Gates on platform X, PM Modi said, “As always, an excellent meeting with Bill Gates. We spoke about diverse issues including tech, innovation, and sustainability towards making a better future for the coming generations.”
Gates is on his third visit to India in three years, engaging in high-level discussions about artificial intelligence, healthcare, agriculture, and digital transformation.
His meeting with PM Modi was focused on India’s development vision, particularly the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ goal -- an initiative aimed at making India a developed nation by its centenary year of Independence.
The discussions between Modi and Gates emphasised how AI and digital infrastructure can revolutionise healthcare, education, and agriculture.
“I had a great discussion with @narendramodi about India’s development, the path to Viksit Bharat 2047, and exciting advancements in health, agriculture, AI, and other sectors that are creating impact today,” Gates posted on X.
The India AI Mission and the Gates Foundation are expected to collaborate on several initiatives, leveraging technology to improve public services and create sustainable solutions.
Gates also met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to explore new opportunities for agricultural development.
Their conversation revolved around climate-resistant crops, biofortification, and AI-driven farming techniques, which can help Indian farmers tackle climate change and boost productivity.
“The Gates Foundation is already working with us, and today we discussed where we can expand that collaboration,” Chouhan said after the meeting.
This visit holds special significance as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
For the first time, its Board of Trustees is convening in the Global South, with India chosen as the focal point of its global initiatives.
Andhra partners with Gates Foundation to leverage technology for public welfare
The Andhra Pradesh government and the Gates Foundation on Wednesday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage technology for public welfare by integrating cost-effective and scalable solutions across key sectors of healthcare, medtech, education, and agriculture.
The MoU was signed in New Delhi where Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, this MoU formalises a strategic collaboration in which the Gates Foundation will provide support to implementation partners, co-identified with the Andhra Pradesh government, for targeted interventions within state-driven programmes.
The partnership will leverage AI for predictive health analytics and automated diagnostics, while in agriculture, it introduces AI-driven advisory platforms and satellite-based systems for precision farming and resource management.
Naidu thanked the Gates Foundation for its support and reaffirmed his commitment to harness technology for the state’s progress. "Our partnership with the Gates Foundation can be instrumental in advancing Andhra Pradesh’s development goals. By leveraging AI-driven governance, human capital development, and technological innovations in health, agriculture, and education, this MoU will achieve transformative outcomes that will benefit not only our state but also create scalable models for broader impact," he said.
"I’m encouraged by the potential of our partnership - especially in providing cost-effective, locally produced diagnostics and medical devices to improve the lives of vulnerable populations. By using AI and technology solutions to address key areas such as health, agriculture, and foundational learning, we can also provide examples for other regions in India and beyond to replicate," said Bill Gates.
Key functionaries from the Andhra Pradesh government and representatives from the Gates Foundation were also present on the occasion.
Naidu later posted on ‘X’ that he had a wonderful meeting with Bill Gates. "We had a very productive discussion on how the GoAP and the Gates Foundation can collaborate for the development and welfare of the people of Andhra Pradesh. We explored the use of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence and predictive analytics to improve service delivery in key areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and employment generation," he wrote.
He believes that the partnership with the Gates Foundation will play a crucial role in empowering people and achieving the vision of Swarna Andhra Pradesh 2047.
