Microsoft co-founder and social philanthropist Bill Gates and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met each other to hold an extensive discussion on India’s tenure as G20 President, extrapolating the immense potential of India, and how Indian innovations could have a significant impact on the rest kr the world . Often at times steering the discussion to include exchanging views and ideas about the country’s progress in health, climate change, and development.

“It’s (India’s G20 presidency) an excellent opportunity to highlight how innovations developed in India can benefit the world, and to help other countries adopt them. Supporting these efforts—especially spreading its digital ID and payments systems to other places—is a high priority for our foundation,” Gates wrote in his official blog. 

The two spoke on long about the country’s present health system and its efforts in dealing with the COVID pandemic, “India has an amazing ability to manufacture lots of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines, some of them supported by the Gates Foundation. Vaccines produced in India have saved millions of lives during the pandemic and prevented other diseases around the world,” the blog read further. 

Gates was reminiscent of the past, the world being brought to a standstill, and travel of sorts being nonexistent for some time. Gates revealed that he had always stayed in touch with PM Modi, with the subject of focus, developing vaccines and investing in the country’s health care system.

During his recent visit to India, Gates attended the Fifth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, where he took the stage to highlight how the pandemic’s occurence “catalyzed” a wave of health innovation in India. Hailing the Gati Shakti programme and Co-Win portal as great innovations for India’s digital future. 

Speaking on the subject of India’s progress over the years in combating dangerous diseases, praised Modi for India’s efforts in eliminating tuberculosis, visceral leishmaniasis, and lymphatic filariasis to name a few. 

Referring to India as a key partner in Mission Innovation (a global initiative to make clean energy affordable, accessible), Gates added that he looked forward to meet with the programme’s other partners, during the Conference of Parties (CoP 28) summit at the end of 2023.

Gates, the co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates also drew attention to his trip to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

“I even got to taste millet khichdi, a type of porridge, at a “Godh Bharai” ceremony—similar to a baby shower—for two women hosted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development”, said Gates in his blog.