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Gates reaches Hyderabad on a 24-hr visit

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates was accorded a warm reception at Begumpet airport when he arrived from Mumbai shortly before midnight for a 24-hour visit to Hyderabad.

With protocol and security arrangements for Gates resembling those for a head of state, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu personally received him at the airport. However, the media, including press photographers and TV crews, were barred.

After the night stay at a star hotel, Gates has a hectic schedule on Thursday. He begins his day with an hour-long meeting with the chief minister at Jubilee Hall. Naidu is expected to seek Microsoft chairman's assistance for several programmes ranging from immunisation to HIV prevention to e-governance in Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu will make powerpoint presentations on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and measures for tackling the menace in Andhra Pradesh, high infant mortality rate in the state and universal immunisation and other remedial measures and the e-governance initiatives launched by the government in recent years.

Thereafter, Gates will participate in an hour-long round-table discussion with officials and non-government organisations involved in immunisation and AIDS control programmes and e-governance projects.

After the Jubilee Hall meetings, Gates will fly by helicopter to Shadnagar, about 50 kms south of Hyderabad, to visit a health clinic and hold discussions with the clinic staff there. He will observe the immunisation session and administer vaccines to the babies to mark the launching of the second phase of Hepatitis-B Vaccine programme for children funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in six districts.

After a visit to the TB clinic, he will interact with the media for a while.

In the afternoon, he will arrive at Satyam Technology Centre at Bahadurpally in the north of Hyderabad for a luncheon meeting. Later, he will visit the Microsoft India Development Centre at Hitec City in Madhapur and also grace a meeting of Nasscom executive council members.

Gates will round off his visit with an hour-long programme at Shilpakala Vedika auditorium at Shilparamam near Hitec City. Naidu will make a presentation on "e-government: redefining service." The online transaction process pilot project for providing e-services for rural areas will be formally launched.

Gates will address the gathering, which will include ministers, government officials, legislators and other invitees.

He will leave for Seattle from Begumpet airport at 2200 IST.

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