Bill Gates visits Amaravati, lauds AP’s tech-driven governance

Vijayawada: Gates Foundation chairman Bill Gates on Monday praised the Andhra Pradesh govt for its use of technology in governance. Visiting Amaravati, Gates met chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, whom he described as his "good old friend." Naidu presented the state's Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) initiatives, showcasing digital tools for governance delivery.Gates spent nearly an hour at the RTGS centre, where Naidu explained the Data Lake, AWARE 2.0, WhatsApp governance, the Sanjeevani health initiative, and Amaravati's capital development systems. Gates enquired about feedback mechanisms, and Naidu highlighted how blockchain and QR codes were used to secure land records.Reviewing the Sanjeevani project in Kuppam, Gates noted the state's efforts to prepare digital health records using AI. He also appreciated Amaravati's design as a green and blue city. A statement from Naidu's office said Gates commended the govt's push for universal healthcare and stressed affordable diagnostic services.In a separate meeting, Naidu said Gates' visit would drive the next phase of digital reforms. Recalling their first meeting in 1997, he noted it led to Microsoft's Hyderabad operations and helped the city become an IT hub. He added that Andhra Pradesh's Swarnandhra Vision 2047 would take shape with Gates Foundation support.Gates told officials that Naidu remained ahead of global leaders in technological thinking. He said India was at the forefront of the digital revolution, with both the Prime Minister and Naidu playing key roles. He praised the Sanjeevani project and said AI could also transform education.He further lauded Andhra Pradesh's adoption of technology in agriculture and disaster management, noting that even developed countries struggled to use such systems effectively. Responding to ministers, Gates said Hyderabad's IT growth had produced a large pool of professionals, with Microsoft employing many experts from the Telugu states.