Then Hyderabad, now Amaravati: Gates, Naidu revisit a 1990s tech bond

Amaravati: A rare display of camaraderie marked the meeting between Bill Gates, Microsoft cofounder and Chairman of the Gates Foundation, and N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, during the former’s goodwill visit here on Monday to explore collaboration in health, governance and other sectors.

Gates, who is visiting Amaravati, also met Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, IT Minister Nara Lokesh and senior officials of the State government.

Taking to X later, Naidu said technology must serve humanity and highlighted how Andhra Pradesh’s Real Time Governance System (RTGS) is transforming lives by delivering speed in governance and improving ease of doing business in real time. He recalled his meeting with Gates in the 1990s, saying it inspired a technology-driven approach to citizen empowerment.

“Delighted to showcase our RTGS centre today, powered by brilliant young minds, alongside flagship initiatives in education, agriculture and health,” the Chief Minister said.

Responding, Gates recalled how Naidu, during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, had offered him an opportunity to expand Microsoft operations in Hyderabad, describing it as a pivotal moment in the company’s India journey.

Earlier, Naidu explained to Gates how faster civic services are being delivered through Real Time Governance and the measurable outcomes achieved. Gates sought details on the functioning of Data Lake, Aware 2.0, WhatsApp Governance, the Sanjeevani project and the development of Amaravati. He also inspected presentations at the RTGS centre, where officials explained that all government departments are interconnected through the Data Lake. Gates appreciated efforts to simplify citizen services through Data Lake and WhatsApp Governance. Naidu said real-time information gathered via Aware 2.0 enables quicker decision-making, while public opinion is regularly collected to guide policy implementation. Growth in GSDP, he added, is being monitored through Key Performance Indicators.

On property record security, officials said land records are being preserved using blockchain technology, with QR codes introduced to enhance transparency. Gates termed the tax collection system “amazing,” while Naidu noted the significant increase in collections following the introduction of GST.