Chandrababu Naidu asks Bill Gates for Microsoft unit in Visakhapatnam

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandr-ababu Naidu revealed that Microsoft founder Bill Gates is a good friend of his.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday at the Secretariat, Naidu said, “I asked Bill Gates as a friend to set up a Microsoft unit in Visakhapatnam. He has reacted positively.”

Recollecting his first meeting with Bill Gates Naidu said, “It was nearly 18 years ago in Delhi.

I tried to get an appointment with him, but he said that he had no work with politicians. I insisted on an appointment for only 10 minutes and Bill Gates invited me to a cocktail party for the discussion. I told him attending a cocktail party will give me a bad name, I asked for 10 minutes for my presentation, but we discussed for 45 minutes. Impressed with my presentation he agreed to set up a unit of Microsoft in Hyderabad.”

Naidu said after Microsoft was set up at Hyderabad, a number of IT companies came to Hyderabad.

Talking about his four-day Davos visit, Naidu said many companies and industrialists expressed interest in investing in Andhra Pradesh, and in India.

He said that the main aim of his foreign tours was to make a brand image for the state.

Mr Naidu said Wal-Mart had come forward to help Andhra Pradesh in five fields.

Infosys has offered to set up its centre in AP.

Wipro has assured to expand its Santoor soap manufacturing unit at Hindupur in Ananthapur district. PepsiCo has agreed to set up its unit at Sri City in Chittoor district.