Andhra Pradesh Seeks Bill Gates' Partnership for AI University Advisory Board: Nara Lokesh
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Andhra Pradesh IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh met Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates at the Microsoft Café on the Davos Promenade. During the meeting, Chandrababu Naidu recalled how Microsoft’s establishment of an IT center in Hyderabad during his tenure as Chief Minister of the united Andhra Pradesh transformed the city’s landscape.
Nara Lokesh urged Bill Gates to support Andhra Pradesh’s rapidly developing IT sector, particularly by contributing to the advisory board of the upcoming world-class AI University in the state. He stated, “Your invaluable advice will significantly enhance IT development in Andhra Pradesh. We also request the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to partner with the state government to establish a Center of Excellence for Health Innovation and Diagnostics in Andhra Pradesh.”
Lokesh further invited the Gates Foundation to collaborate in developing the state’s innovation and incubation ecosystem. Highlighting Africa's health dashboards as a model, Lokesh suggested implementing similar social infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh, with the foundation’s technical expertise. “Position Andhra Pradesh as the gateway for the Gates Foundation's operations in South India,” he urged. He emphasized that the state government aims to globally apply innovations locally through such partnerships.
Bill Gates Praises Chandrababu Naidu’s Visionary Leadership
Bill Gates expressed his pleasure at reconnecting with Chandrababu Naidu after a long time. He described the Chief Minister as a visionary leader and assured that the Gates Foundation would discuss Andhra Pradesh’s proposals with its team before making decisions.
