Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates received a warm welcome in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday from State IT Minister Nara Lokesh and other cabinet members. He visited the state to explore potential areas of collaboration in healthcare, agriculture, education and social welfare, said a media release from the state government.
During his visit, Gates held meetings with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan and senior officials to discuss how technology-driven solutions could be scaled to improve public service delivery.
Officials briefed him on Andhra Pradesh’s ongoing programmes in digital health records, telemedicine, disease surveillance and integrated service platforms designed to strengthen primary healthcare, particularly in rural and remote areas.
According to officials, Gates showed interest in the state’s efforts to use data analytics and AI for monitoring health indicators and targeting interventions for maternal and child health, nutrition and immunisation. He also discussed the importance of building resilient health systems that can respond quickly to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
Agriculture was another key focus area. The state government presented its initiatives on precision farming, use of satellite and weather data, digital advisory services for farmers and promotion of climate-resilient crops. Gates emphasised the need for scientific research and innovation to be translated into affordable and practical solutions for small and marginal farmers.
In the education sector, officials outlined Andhra Pradesh’s digital learning platforms, school infrastructure upgrades and teacher training programmes. Discussions included ways to expand access to quality education and improve learning outcomes through technology-enabled classrooms and personalised learning tools.
The meetings also covered social protection programmes and the use of digital platforms for beneficiary identification, direct benefit transfers and monitoring of welfare schemes. State officials stated that the objective was to ensure transparency, reduce leakages, and improve service delivery efficiency.
The state government indicated that it would explore partnerships with the philanthropic organisations supported by Gates to pilot and scale selected initiatives. Areas under consideration include strengthening primary healthcare systems, improving nutrition outcomes and enhancing data-driven governance.
Gates appreciated the state’s focus on using technology for the public good and its emphasis on last-mile delivery. He noted that collaboration between governments, philanthropic institutions and the private sector is essential to address large-scale development challenges.