Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

Maharashtra seeks $16.5 mn aid from Gates to combat AIDS

Maharashtra sought $16.5 million aid from Microsoft chairman Bill Gates to combat and prevent the fast spreading of AIDS, cancer and malaria and asked the company to increase its presence in the state by associating with various projects.

"We have already spent $13 million on prevention and cure of AIDS in the state. We need an additional aid of $16.5 million from you for healthcare," Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said in his address at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Gandhi Institute of Computer Education and IT in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Later, after a closed door meeting with the Microsoft chairman, Deshmukh told reporters: "The meeting was positive and Gates has appreciated state government's e-governance initiatives," he said.

However, Deshmukh said no specific project or investment has been firmed up with Microsoft, but the government shall have detailed discussions with company officials to work together in all the above-mentioned issues.

"We would like Microsoft to associate itself with IT training in the state especially by opening an institute in Pune, which is India's knowledge city", he said.

ALSO READ:
Bill Gates in India
More Money Headlines