SME Times News Bureau | 18 Nov, 2019
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today had a
meeting with Mr. Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
during the latter’s three-day visit to India.
The two had last met in September in New York, on
the sidelines of the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr. Bill Gates reinforced his Foundation’s
commitment to supporting the Government of India, in its efforts to meet the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a particular focus on health, nutrition,
sanitation and agriculture.
Mr Gates commended the Prime Minister on
prioritizing nutrition as a key focus area, and the efforts being made under
the National Nutrition Mission.
He also presented new ideas that can help enhance
agricultural productivity and systems performance, with a particular focus on
improving access, to enable the upliftment of the poor and the
marginalized.
The Prime Minister appreciated the Foundation’s
efforts and highlighted how the government values the expertise and responsiveness
demonstrated by the Foundation.
He suggested that data and evidence-based
thoughtful interventions and support by development partners can help
accelerate the work in the sectors of health, nutrition, agriculture and green
energy.
Bill Gates was joined by the key members of his
India leadership team.