Naidu, Gates go down memory lane, pat each other

Visakhapatnam: Nostalgia and mutual admiration marked the meeting of Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the last day of the Agri-Tech Summit in Visakhapatnam on Friday. It’s the common cause —application of technology for the well-being of common man -- that brought them together.

Keeping aside the routine business, Naidu and Gates went down the memory lane, recalling their first meeting that took place some 20 years ago. “I felt bowled over by Naidu’s vision when I met him for the first time two decades ago,” said the icon of the IT industry. Chandrababu too recalled his first encounter with the Microsoft chief. “Initially, he gave me an appointment for just 10 minutes.

But he got engrossed in discussions over my plans to promote IT that lasted for 45 minutes,” Naidu said. Impressed by the state’s (united AP) potential, Naidu said, Bill Gates had instantly conceded his request to set up a Microsoft development centre in Hyderabad. Naidu praised Bill Gates, saying the latter was not only generating wealth but also using substantial amounts from his earnings for philanthropic activities all over the world. Gates described Naidu as his “best friend”.

At a one-to-one meeting, Bill Gates entered an MoU with the AP government, facilitating satellite soil testing in the state. In this connection, the co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has called for efforts to increase agricultural productivity and introduction of new varieties. He said efforts are also needed to improve the productivity of dairy sector. He said the technology had evolved over a period of time, helping the farmers reap the benefits of tech-based solutions in fintech and agriculture.

Gates noted with appreciations the strides being made by AP under Naidu’s stewardship in digital soil mapping, delivery of entitlements through digital transfer and ensuring transparency in governance by establishing dashboards.