Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Microsoft founder Bill Gates at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday to discuss fostering partnerships aimed at transforming the state into a global hub for healthcare, education, and innovation, an official release said.
The two deliberated on establishing a centre of excellence for health innovation and diagnostics in the southern state to provide cutting-edge services.
"I am delighted to meet Bill Gates again after a long time... His focus on technology and innovation has been an inspiration to all. We discussed opportunities for collaboration in health and AI innovation, and I look forward to BMGF's (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) partnership in Andhra Pradesh's progress," the release quoted Naidu as saying.
Emphasising Andhra Pradesh's commitment to leveraging innovation to improve public health outcomes, the Chief Minister invited Gates to join the advisory board of a proposed artificial intelligence (AI) university in the state.
Naidu assured Gates that Andhra Pradesh could serve as a gateway for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's (BMGF) initiatives across South India, providing a platform to amplify their reach and effectiveness.
Earlier, the Chief Minister requested Google to consider Visakhapatnam as a potential chip design and manufacturing centre.
"Naidu requested Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian to explore opportunities in Visakhapatnam for a chip design centre, as Google is now manufacturing its own chips for server operations," the release stated.
In a post on X, Naidu said, "Had an engaging discussion with Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, and Andre Nakazawa, Manager of International Organisation at Google. We explored the latest advancements in technology and the incredible opportunities in Andhra Pradesh. With our exceptionally talented youth, we're poised to redefine the future of tech!"
The Chief Minister also met Muhammad Taufiq, President and Group CEO of Petronas, and urged him to invest in the emerging petrochemical hub at Mulapeta.
He requested Petronas to consider establishing a global capability centre in Andhra Pradesh.
Petronas, aiming to produce 5 million tonnes of green ammonia by 2030, is looking to invest in green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green molecules in India. As part of this, Petronas is expected to invest up to ₹15,000 crore in a plant in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, the release said.
Similarly, Naidu held discussions with Eugene Willemsen, CEO of Pepsi International Franchise Beverages, and Stephen Kehoe, Chairman of the PepsiCo Foundation.
He invited them to make Visakhapatnam PepsiCo's global delivery centre and set up a PepsiCo digital hub. The Chief Minister also requested PepsiCo to establish a KurKure manufacturing unit and collaborate with Andhra Pradesh farmers for supply chain needs.
Additionally, Naidu met Hamad Al Mahmeed, a representative from the Bahrain Prime Minister's Office, and Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat.
He briefed them about Andhra Pradesh's new industrial policies and invited them to the state to witness its "speed of doing business."
The Chief Minister also met Unilever's Chief Supply Officer, Willem Uijen, according to the release.
Unilever is considering investing ₹330 crore in the palm oil sector in Andhra Pradesh, and Naidu requested the company to consider Visakhapatnam for setting up its technology centre, the release said.
Moreover, Naidu sought assistance from Roberto Bocca, Head of the Centre for Energy and Materials (Cenmat) and a member of WEF's executive committee, to attract global investments into Andhra Pradesh in green hydrogen, battery storage, and solar manufacturing, the release added.
He also sought WEF's support in establishing a clean energy knowledge and skill development centre in the state, the release said.
Follow us
