Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Bill Gates, Chair and Board Member of the Gates Foundation, in New Delhi today. The meeting also included Mark Suzman, CEO and Board Member of the Gates Foundation, and Hari Menon, Country Director for India/South and Southeast Asia at the foundation.
During the discussion, Bill Gates highlighted the Gates Foundation’s ongoing collaboration with India’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in the healthcare and agriculture sectors. He emphasized the importance of developing solutions and global public goods to drive progress in these fields.
Gates also shared insights into the foundation’s work in digital financial inclusion, public finance management, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and women’s economic empowerment. He expressed his eagerness to strengthen collaboration with India in these key areas.
Finance Minister Sitharaman acknowledged the significant contributions of the Gates Foundation and underscored India’s forward-thinking policies aimed at developing a robust AI infrastructure. She briefed Gates on India’s initiatives, including the establishment of Centres of Excellence for AI in four key areas—agriculture, healthcare, sustainable cities, and education. These efforts, she noted, are fostering innovation and self-reliance in the country’s AI sector.
Following the meeting, Bill Gates took to his ‘X’ platform to share his thoughts, stating:
“Thank you for the great discussion, Nirmala Sitharaman. I always love learning more about India’s efforts to expand financial access and economic opportunity for women, and the latest on the country’s leadership on DPI, public finance management, and AI for social good. I look forward to expanding our partnership with the Indian industry of Finance.”
The meeting reinforced the commitment to collaboration between the Indian government and the Gates Foundation, with a shared vision of leveraging technology and innovation for social and economic development.