"Certainly bullish on India's future...": Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates

New Delhi [India], February 29 (ANI): Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates said on Thursday that he is "bullish" about the future of India, adding that the country has witnessed strong improvement in a lot of the key areas. 

In an interview with ANI, when asked whether he is bullish or bearish on India's future, Bill Gates said, "I'm certainly bullish. The rate of improvement in a lot of the key areas is very strong. Everyone knows that in vaccines, India is the world's leader. So we are investing with our partners here to come up with lots of new vaccines. The diagnostic industry has also come out with some work after the pandemic so we are partnering there as well."

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in introducing digital public infrastruture and transforming the country's rural economy, Bill Gates said that other countries can certainly benefit from the Indian leadership.   

"This idea of digital connections that starts with Aadhaar and the bank accounts that you manage digitally, that's flourishing. And so we see in agriculture now that they are registering the farmers and giving them advance notice. And so Indian leadership is something other countries should benefit from," he said.

Referring to the successful hosting of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi under the Indian G20 presidency,  Bill Gates further mentioned his conversation with the External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on the countries that can take help from the Indian leadership.

"So going back to the G20, India stated its desire to help others. And we are partner with India. In fact, I spoke with the External Affairs Minister today about what countries could we accelerate. They are getting some of these benefits that have been so incredible here in India," he said. 

On Prime Minister Modi's vision for India, Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates said that the strength of India today, in terms of economic growth and innovation, is very exciting.

"The strength of India today, in terms of economic growth, and innovation, is very exciting. That's why companies like Microsoft has 25,000 people here that do absolutely amazing work."

He highlighted tha fact that India "developed over 25 years, and so a foundation was laid of educating people and now that's paying off".

"It's nice to see you've got a government where some of the political competition is, I'll run the health system better than they do.  I'll make the schools better than they do.Democracy is a magic system when it works well. It's not just that my group deserves a term but rather that my group will grow the pie for everyone, improve the economy, and improve education," he said while praising the Indian democracy where the parties strive for the development of the country. 

" I've been coming here, you know, every time it's like, wow, Indian innovation is at a much higher level. And the health statistics, you know, they're being honest about, okay, this is where we are. This is what's improved. You know, if the foundation has some way of helping out, they're great to partner with," he added.

He said that the growth of the Indian economy is definitely a real positive and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation will continue to engage with India .

When asked about plans regarding India, Microsoft co-founder said, "We do more in India than any country in the world. We're proving out here in India things like how do we finally solve malnutrition. We do some work in agriculture. We do some work in sanitation. We're pretty broad here, and we feel great about the partnerships we have. And so it's, you know, we have... very ambitious goals that will benefit not only India, but the entire world." (ANI)