Chandrababu Naidu Recalls How ‘Good Friend' Bill Gates Once Refused To Meet Him
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Naidu and Gates are npw collaborating on a new initiative through the Gates Foundation, with plans to work across three sectors — health, agriculture, and education.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, often hailed as the architect of Hyderabad's IT revolution, recalled how Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who initially declined to meet him, eventually became a 'good friend."
Naidu revealed that Gates had initially declined to meet him during a visit to New Delhi in the 1990s, when Naidu was serving as the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
At the time, Naidu had expressed interest in meeting the tech billionaire, but was informed that Gates was busy and 'didn't have any work with politicians."
However, Naidu persisted.
'Then he (Gates) offered me to come and join the cocktail party. At that time, there was a stigma that if you go there, you are also at that party. So, I said no," Naidu told NDTV.
Eventually, Gates agreed to a brief 10-minute meeting — but only after 'great difficulty," Naidu recalled. Determined to make the most of it, he prepared a detailed presentation over the course of a week.
'Everything I explained to him," he said, describing how he laid out India's strengths and future potential.
Impressed by the presentation, Gates asked how he could contribute. To this, Naidu responded, 'Don't do anything for me. You believe in India, and also don't forget about Indians."
Naidu also encouraged Gates to consider Hyderabad if Microsoft planned to set up a development centre outside Seattle — a suggestion that led to the establishment of Microsoft's first such facility outside the US in 1998.
Although the meeting was scheduled for just 10 minutes, it was extended to 45 minutes. Naidu later travelled to Seattle to continue the discussion, which culminated in a joint press conference — and the beginning of a personal and professional bond.
'This is how things will happen dramatically sometimes. Now he has become a good friend. Recently, he came and we had a very good meeting," Naidu said.
Now, the two are collaborating on a new initiative through the Gates Foundation, with plans to work across three sectors — health, agriculture, and education.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Naidu said the health project aims to bring services entirely online, enabling real-time monitoring with AI tools.
'That will be very interesting. It will be a game-changer in the health sector," he added.
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