Hyderabad: Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates visited Biological E Ltd, a leading vaccine manufacturer, and the International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) near here on Thursday on a private trip kept completely under wraps.
Gates, who is also co-chairperson of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, visited Biological E Ltd late on Thursday evening, the company said in a statement yesterday.
“Mr Bill Gates congratulated Biological E on the science and innovation platform of the company that allows it to supply effective and affordable vaccines,” the statement said.
The private, one-day visit to Andhra Pradesh by Gates was kept secret for security reasons. The media and junior officials at ICRISAT were not informed.
He arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in a private jet and reached ICRISAT at Patancheru in Medak district, about 50 km from here. He interacted with scientists and ICRISAT officials about various food security programmes.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding ICRISAT’s Village Dynamics Studies in South Asia, a project aimed at fighting hunger and alleviating poverty in dry lands.
IANS
