On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates on the sidelines of the climate summit and addressed ways to facilitate sustainable development and measures to decrease climate change.
The meeting between Modi and Bill Gates, whose foundation centres on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, took place after the former began the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) to develop small island nations’ infrastructure.
“Prime Minister @narendramodi met @BillGates on the sidelines of the @COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Both discussed ways to further sustainable development and steps to mitigate climate change,” the Office of the Prime Minister of India said on Twitter.
Prime Minister @narendramodi met @BillGates on the sidelines of the @COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Both discussed ways to further sustainable development and steps to mitigate climate change. pic.twitter.com/Li65b0VKN4
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 2, 2021
Gates, previously, has strengthened his foundation’s dedication to supporting the Government of India in its attempts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a particular focus on health, nutrition, sanitation and agriculture.
On Monday, Gates said that innovation would take centre stage at this year’s UN Climate Conference, and he was optimistic about the road ahead. “By bringing the world together at #COP26, we can find more ways to accelerate the development and adoption of the clean technologies we need to reach net-zero emissions,” he said on Twitter.
Last year May, Gates and PM Modi communicated via video call and addressed the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thank you for the conversation and partnership, @narendramodi. Combating the pandemic requires global collaboration. India’s role is key as the world works to minimise social and economic impact and pave the way to vaccine, testing, and treatment access for all,” the billionaire philanthropist had said on Twitter.
In November 2019, Gates had summoned Modi to New Delhi, during which the Prime Minister said that the co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing towards making the planet a better place.
“Always a delight to interact with him on various subjects. Through his innovative zeal and grassroots level work,” Modi had said on Twitter. Last month, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation declared a pledge of up to USD 120 million to stimulate access to the investigational antiviral drug molnupiravir for lower-income nations as part of its COVID-19 response effort.
The funding will be allotted based on discussions with partners and will help the range of activities wanted to improve and manufacture generic versions of the drug, which is being produced by Merck & Co in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, the foundation said in a statement.
This engagement builds on the foundation’s continuous attempts, including USD 1.9 billion in funding, since the start of the pandemic to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests by supporting research and development, regulatory work, at-risk manufacturing, and product delivery.
