Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates praised India as a “global leader with breakthrough innovations” in technology, agriculture, and healthcare during the first-ever India Independence Day celebrations at the newly-opened Indian Consulate in Seattle.

What Happened: Gates, who is the chairman of the Gates Foundation, addressed over 2,000 Indian-Americans at the event. He highlighted India’s contributions to manufacturing low-cost vaccines and its leadership in Digital Public Infrastructure, reported NDTV.

Gates noted, “India’s ingenuity is helping not just Indians, but the whole world.” He emphasized that countries across the Global South are leveraging India’s experience to build their own DPI systems.

The event, which marked India’s 78th Independence Day, also featured Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Congressman Adam Smith, and other notable figures.

Various floats and cultural performances showcased India’s rich cultural heritage under the theme of Unity in Diversity.

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Several official proclamations were issued by local governments and city councils to honour the celebrations. Iconic buildings in Seattle and Bellevue were illuminated in the colours of the Indian flag to mark the occasion.

Why It Matters: Gates has long been an admirer of India’s progress and potential. In a recent podcast with Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, Gates reminisced about his early interactions with India.

He recalled hiring Indian IT graduates for Microsoft's headquarters in Seattle, who later established a development centre in India, now employing 25,000 people. This highlights the deep-rooted connection between Gates and India, which has grown over decades.

Earlier this year, Gates expressed his optimism about India's future in a blog post before his first visit to the country since the pandemic. He noted that India gives him “hope for the future” and was eager to witness the progress made during his absence. Gates emphasized the importance of addressing global health and climate change, issues he believes are closely linked.

In February, Gates visited Odisha to explore India’s digital infrastructure and champion the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture. He met with Odisha's then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss initiatives like the ‘Jaga Mission' for slum development and ‘Mission Shakti' for empowering women.

Since 2017, the state's agriculture and fisheries departments have collaborated with the Gates Foundation to develop data-driven solutions for farmers and fishermen.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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