<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a new 'green'&nbspbus-manufacturing plant of Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of Hinduja group.</p>

<p>The green field factory will be the first plant of Ashok Leyland in the state.</p>

<p>The plant is situated at the Model Industrial Park, Mallavalli village in Krishna district.</p>

<p>Ashok Leyland chairman, Dheeraj G Hinduja, and MD and CEO Vinod K Dasari attended the ceremony.</p>

<p>Part of the fast upcoming manufacturing hub in Krishna district, the plant will be spread over 75 acres and will include latest technologies to deliver high-quality standards.</p>

<p>Once fully completed, the plant will be able to produce 4800 buses per annum.</p>

<p>Further, a state of the art learning center and an advanced service training centre will also be set up.</p>

<p>The plant will have the potential to employ over 5000 employees.</p>

<p>While the plant will have the capability to make the entire range of buses of Ashok Leyland brand, the facility will also include an electric vehicle development centre comprising of a futuristic conveyor line, pilot assembly line and prototype development.</p>

<p>It will be a complete green facility with rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, battery operated vehicles for in-plant movement, positive water balance and zero discharge.</p>

<p>"Today is a landmark day for us. We are excited to have such an established company like Ashok Leyland setting up a factory in Andhra Pradesh. It is a key addition to our fast expanding manufacturing hub here. This factory will not only provide jobs to our youth but also help improve the skill level of our people in the state and overall economy of the region," said Chandrababu Naidu.</p>

<p>He also added that they are developing the state as an automobile hub.</p>

<p>"We are developing Andhra Pradesh as an automobile hub. Kia motors at Anantapuram, Ashok Leyland here and many big shot companies in different parts of the state. With a number of MSMEs, Mallavalli will soon become an industrial hub. Airport and seaport are nearer. Outer Ring Road is under construction. With all connectivity facilities, transport will be very easy," he said.</p>

<p>Naidu also added that the state is number one in agriculture.</p>

<p>However, to achieve sustainable growth, the state needs to develop the services and industrial sectors.</p>

<p>"Post the bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh has been suffering from many problems. I am working hard to overcome the hurdles. Through partnership summits, worldwide meetings, we are trying to bring many industries in manufacturing as well as service sectors. Our aim is to achieve number one in productivity at a national level. We will make Andhra Pradesh one of the top three states in India by 2022, top state in India by 2029 and top class state in the world by 2050," he added.</p>

<p>"The Hinduja Group is proud that its flagship Ashok Leyland has chosen the vibrant state of Andhra Pradesh for its latest plant. Ashok Leyland has been at the forefront of mass mobility in the country. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future," said Dheeraj G Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland.</p>

<p>"This facility will help us be ahead of the curve by ensuring our readiness towards implementation of the bus body code and to meet the rising demand for ready to use, fully built trucks as well. We will also produce electric vehicles at this plant. The new plant is also strategically located to meet the demands of center, east and southern India markets," said Vinod K Dasari, MD and CEO, Ashok Leyland.</p>

<p>Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Amarnath Reddy, Law Minister Kollu Raveendra, Krishna district collector B Lakahmikantam, MP K Narayana, and other dignitaries graced the occasion.&nbsp</p>


The green field factory will be the first plant of Ashok Leyland in the state.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a new 'green'&nbspbus-manufacturing plant of Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of Hinduja group. The green field factory will be the first plant of Ashok Leyland in the state. The plant is situated at the Model Industrial Park, Mallavalli village in Krishna district. Ashok Leyland chairman, Dheeraj G Hinduja, and MD and CEO Vinod K Dasari attended the ceremony. Part of the fast upcoming manufacturing hub in Krishna district, the plant will be spread over 75 acres and will include latest technologies to deliver high-quality standards. Once fully completed, the plant will be able to produce 4800 buses per annum. Further, a state of the art learning center and an advanced service training centre will also be set up. The plant will have the potential to employ over 5000 employees. While the plant will have the capability to make the entire range of buses of Ashok Leyland brand, the facility will also include an electric vehicle development centre comprising of a futuristic conveyor line, pilot assembly line and prototype development. It will be a complete green facility with rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, battery operated vehicles for in-plant movement, positive water balance and zero discharge. "Today is a landmark day for us. We are excited to have such an established company like Ashok Leyland setting up a factory in Andhra Pradesh. It is a key addition to our fast expanding manufacturing hub here. This factory will not only provide jobs to our youth but also help improve the skill level of our people in the state and overall economy of the region," said Chandrababu Naidu. He also added that they are developing the state as an automobile hub. "We are developing Andhra Pradesh as an automobile hub. Kia motors at Anantapuram, Ashok Leyland here and many big shot companies in different parts of the state. With a number of MSMEs, Mallavalli will soon become an industrial hub. Airport and seaport are nearer. Outer Ring Road is under construction. With all connectivity facilities, transport will be very easy," he said. Naidu also added that the state is number one in agriculture. However, to achieve sustainable growth, the state needs to develop the services and industrial sectors. "Post the bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh has been suffering from many problems. I am working hard to overcome the hurdles. Through partnership summits, worldwide meetings, we are trying to bring many industries in manufacturing as well as service sectors. Our aim is to achieve number one in productivity at a national level. We will make Andhra Pradesh one of the top three states in India by 2022, top state in India by 2029 and top class state in the world by 2050," he added. "The Hinduja Group is proud that its flagship Ashok Leyland has chosen the vibrant state of Andhra Pradesh for its latest plant. Ashok Leyland has been at the forefront of mass mobility in the country. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future," said Dheeraj G Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland. "This facility will help us be ahead of the curve by ensuring our readiness towards implementation of the bus body code and to meet the rising demand for ready to use, fully built trucks as well. We will also produce electric vehicles at this plant. The new plant is also strategically located to meet the demands of center, east and southern India markets," said Vinod K Dasari, MD and CEO, Ashok Leyland. Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Amarnath Reddy, Law Minister Kollu Raveendra, Krishna district collector B Lakahmikantam, MP K Narayana, and other dignitaries graced the occasion.

Andhra gets a new 'green' bus-manufacturing plant

<p>The TDP on Wednesday night decided to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre and asked two of its ministers in the Modi government to tender their resignation but kept the door for ties with the BJP ajar.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020">Also read: Will give money equivalent </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020">of</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020"> special status to Andhra Pradesh, says&nbsp;Arun Jaitley</a></p>

<p>The TDP took the painful decision in the interest of the state as it was left with no other option, party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at an emergency press briefing.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It&#39;s a crucial time.<br />
We have to stand, we have to fight, we have to get it done.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971447691489239040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The two ministers in the Modi government are Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary.</p>

<p>In a tit-for-tat action, the two BJP ministers in the Naidu government--K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao--too announced their decision to quit.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I tried reaching out to the Prime Minister to inform him about our decision. But sadly, he was unavailable.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971446399316385792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state, he said.</p>

<p>The TDP has 16 MPs in the Lok Sabha.</p>

<p>Naidu&#39;s announcement came barely hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that funds equivalent to what a special category state receives would be extended to Andhra Pradesh, but drew a line saying politics cannot increase the quantum of money.</p>

<p>We have now come out of the NDA. Party-to-party (TDP-BJP ties) issue will be decided later, he added, hinting that their alliance may continue in the future.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am not angry with anyone. This decision has been taken only to benefit the people of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971446279287988224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jaitley said giving special category status, as demanded by Naidu, to any state apart from those in the North-East and three hill provinces were not constitutionally possible after the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations.</p>

<p>For special category status category states, the Centre meets 90 per cent of the funds required in a centrally sponsored scheme as against 60 per cent in case of normal category states. The remaining funds are provided by the state governments.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Centre has been taking one sided decisions and our patience has run out now. When the purpose of joining the union cabinet hasn&rsquo;t been fulfilled, it&rsquo;s best to resign now.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971446230088691712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Naidu said Jaitley&#39;s announcement was the &quot;last straw&quot; for the TDP. Naidu had repeatedly insisted on special category state status for Andhra Pradesh following mounting pressure from the opposition.</p>

<p>Jaitley&#39;s statement was nothing but insulting us, he maintained.</p>

<p>&#39;&#39;I made every effort to get our issues resolved by the Centre in the last four years. I told them about the people&#39;s sentiment and tried to convince them in every manner but to no avail, he said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We&rsquo;ve waited enough. We&rsquo;ve believed in false promises enough. Our ministers are resigning from the Union Cabinet. We will do whatever it takes to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
&mdash; Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/naralokesh/status/971437418027995136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>They (Centre) are with a predetermination and there appears to be no way they will help us. Under such inevitable circumstances, we have decided to come out of the NDA, Naidu said, after a three-hour teleconference with party MPs and state ministers following Jaitley&#39;s assertions.</p>

<p>He said the TDP joined the NDA government only to protect the state&#39;s interests following its bifurcation but claimed the Centre was taking unilateral decisions without thinking about the solutions to the state&#39;s problems.</p>

<p>The chief minister said he tried to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone as a courtesy to inform him about the decision to pull out of the NDA government. It is my responsibility as a coalition partner to inform the prime minister about our party decision. My OSD spoke to his OSD but the prime minister did not come online, he said.</p>

<p>Naidu hoped the Centre would at least now respect the sentiments of people of Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>


The TDP took the painful decision in the interest of the state as it was left with no other option, party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at an emergency press briefing.

The TDP on Wednesday night decided to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre and asked two of its ministers in the Modi government to tender their resignation but kept the door for ties with the BJP ajar. Also read: Will give money equivalent of special status to Andhra Pradesh, says Arun Jaitley The TDP took the painful decision in the interest of the state as it was left with no other option, party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at an emergency press briefing. It's a crucial time. We have to stand, we have to fight, we have to get it done. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × The two ministers in the Modi government are Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary. In a tit-for-tat action, the two BJP ministers in the Naidu government--K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao--too announced their decision to quit. I tried reaching out to the Prime Minister to inform him about our decision. But sadly, he was unavailable. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × "When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state, he said. The TDP has 16 MPs in the Lok Sabha. Naidu's announcement came barely hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that funds equivalent to what a special category state receives would be extended to Andhra Pradesh, but drew a line saying politics cannot increase the quantum of money. We have now come out of the NDA. Party-to-party (TDP-BJP ties) issue will be decided later, he added, hinting that their alliance may continue in the future. I am not angry with anyone. This decision has been taken only to benefit the people of Andhra Pradesh. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × Jaitley said giving special category status, as demanded by Naidu, to any state apart from those in the North-East and three hill provinces were not constitutionally possible after the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations. For special category status category states, the Centre meets 90 per cent of the funds required in a centrally sponsored scheme as against 60 per cent in case of normal category states. The remaining funds are provided by the state governments. The Centre has been taking one sided decisions and our patience has run out now. When the purpose of joining the union cabinet hasn’t been fulfilled, it’s best to resign now. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × Naidu said Jaitley's announcement was the "last straw" for the TDP. Naidu had repeatedly insisted on special category state status for Andhra Pradesh following mounting pressure from the opposition. Jaitley's statement was nothing but insulting us, he maintained. ''I made every effort to get our issues resolved by the Centre in the last four years. I told them about the people's sentiment and tried to convince them in every manner but to no avail, he said. We’ve waited enough. We’ve believed in false promises enough. Our ministers are resigning from the Union Cabinet. We will do whatever it takes to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh. — Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) March 7, 2018 × They (Centre) are with a predetermination and there appears to be no way they will help us. Under such inevitable circumstances, we have decided to come out of the NDA, Naidu said, after a three-hour teleconference with party MPs and state ministers following Jaitley's assertions. He said the TDP joined the NDA government only to protect the state's interests following its bifurcation but claimed the Centre was taking unilateral decisions without thinking about the solutions to the state's problems. The chief minister said he tried to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone as a courtesy to inform him about the decision to pull out of the NDA government. It is my responsibility as a coalition partner to inform the prime minister about our party decision. My OSD spoke to his OSD but the prime minister did not come online, he said. Naidu hoped the Centre would at least now respect the sentiments of people of Andhra Pradesh.

TDP pulls out of NDA government, keeps door for alliance with BJP ajar

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-confirms-processing-visa-applications-of-jadhavs-wife-mother-26944" target="_blank">&nbsp;Pakistan confirms &#39;processing&#39; visa applications of Jadhav&#39;s wife, mother</a></p>

<p>Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed that the visa applications of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav&#39;s mother and wife were being processed. According to local media Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office had issued directives to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav&#39;s wife and mother.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mudslide-in-southern-chile-kills-three-15-others-missing-26943" target="_blank">&nbsp;Mudslide in southern Chile kills three; 15 others missing</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;A mudslide tore through a small village near a popular national park in southern Chile on Saturday (December 16), leaving three people dead and 15 missing after a night of torrential downpours, authorities said.&nbsp;Two Chilean women and a male tourist whose name and nationality have not been disclosed died in the accident, authorities said. Rescue workers were continuing to search through the debris for at least 15 other people.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-tax-overhaul-christmas-gift-for-middle-class-26951" target="_blank">Trump calls tax overhaul &#39;Christmas gift&#39; for middle class</a></p>

<p>President Donald Trump said Saturday that the sweeping tax overhaul set to be adopted next week in Congress would be a &quot;great&quot; gift for the middle class. Passage of the measure would mark a massive win for a leader who has yet to notch any major legislative victory after nearly a year in office.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-lifts-ban-on-women-driving-26949" target="_blank">Saudi Arabia lifts ban on women driving</a></p>

<p>Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world to impose a ban on women driving, has finally lifted the ban allowing women to drive cars, drive motorcycles and trucks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/andhra-cabinet-sanctions-pension-scheme-for-transgenders-26948" target="_blank">Andhra Cabinet sanctions pension scheme for transgenders</a></p>

<p>The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a scheme to provide a pension of Rs 1,500 to transgenders above 18 years of age in the state. The Andhra cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and was briefed by Information and Public Relations (I-PR) Minister Kaluva Srinivasulu and Municipal Administration minister P Narayana on Saturday.</p>


Pakistan confirms 'processing' visa applications of Jadhav's wife, mother Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed that the visa applications of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and wife were being processed. According to local media Pakistan's Foreign Office had issued directives to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav's wife and mother. Mudslide in southern Chile kills three; 15 others missing A mudslide tore through a small village near a popular national park in southern Chile on Saturday (December 16), leaving three people dead and 15 missing after a night of torrential downpours, authorities said. Two Chilean women and a male tourist whose name and nationality have not been disclosed died in the accident, authorities said. Rescue workers were continuing to search through the debris for at least 15 other people. Trump calls tax overhaul 'Christmas gift' for middle class President Donald Trump said Saturday that the sweeping tax overhaul set to be adopted next week in Congress would be a "great" gift for the middle class. Passage of the measure would mark a massive win for a leader who has yet to notch any major legislative victory after nearly a year in office. Saudi Arabia lifts ban on women driving Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world to impose a ban on women driving, has finally lifted the ban allowing women to drive cars, drive motorcycles and trucks. Andhra Cabinet sanctions pension scheme for transgenders The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a scheme to provide a pension of Rs 1,500 to transgenders above 18 years of age in the state. The Andhra cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and was briefed by Information and Public Relations (I-PR) Minister Kaluva Srinivasulu and Municipal Administration minister P Narayana on Saturday.

WION morning news brief, December 17 2017

<p>Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has lauded the Andhra Pradesh government for using technology to help farmers in the state.</p>

<p>&quot;Andhra Pradesh is taking bold steps. I expect we will be accelerating it (technology usage). More than half of India&#39;s population engaged in agriculture, and three-fourths of rural women are engaged in agriculture. Apart from gender equality, research has shown that having more women also increases production by 20 to 30 percent,&quot; Gates said at the valedictory session of the AP AgTech Summit-2017.</p>

<p>Gates also noted that the growth in the economy will not only lead to a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but also lift people out of poverty.</p>

<p>&quot;First, we can turn the largest economic sector in the country into a source of growth instead of a drag on the economy. Secondly, we can make sure that growth is inclusive and that it not only leads to a higher GDP but also lifts people out of poverty. Third, we can produce enough nutritious food to spurt a healthy and well-educated labour force for the future, when the Indian economy will depend on even more on highly skilled workers,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was also present in the summit. Naidu requested help from Bill and Melinda Foundation in agriculture, nutrition, and health.</p>

<p>Gates further said, &quot;Two examples that I am very impressed with; one is the Mega Seed Park, which really is the first of its kind and it will make available lots of high-quality seeds and coupled with that is the new EC distribution application, D Krishi, which will help farmers access quality seeds in a timely manner and ensure that the government&#39;s resources are being widely used. These are the kind of innovations that will help achieve the Chief Minister&#39;s goal of sustained double-digit economic growth in Andhra Pradesh over the next decade.&quot;</p>

<p>Gates, who landed in Visakhapatnam on Friday, visited the exhibition stalls in the summit along with Andhra Pradesh chief minister.</p>

<p>The summit focused on innovative ideas, technologies and global best practices to push agricultural transformation in the state.</p>

<p>This three-day global event was organized by the Andhra Pradesh Government in association with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Dalberg Advisors.</p>

<p>More than 1,500 global leaders from 61 countries including business heads, start-up founders, leading policymakers, progressive farmers, NGOs, agriculture, and technology experts participated the summit over three days</p>


Gates also noted that the growth in the economy will not only lead to a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but also lift people out of poverty.

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has lauded the Andhra Pradesh government for using technology to help farmers in the state. "Andhra Pradesh is taking bold steps. I expect we will be accelerating it (technology usage). More than half of India's population engaged in agriculture, and three-fourths of rural women are engaged in agriculture. Apart from gender equality, research has shown that having more women also increases production by 20 to 30 percent," Gates said at the valedictory session of the AP AgTech Summit-2017. Gates also noted that the growth in the economy will not only lead to a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but also lift people out of poverty. "First, we can turn the largest economic sector in the country into a source of growth instead of a drag on the economy. Secondly, we can make sure that growth is inclusive and that it not only leads to a higher GDP but also lifts people out of poverty. Third, we can produce enough nutritious food to spurt a healthy and well-educated labour force for the future, when the Indian economy will depend on even more on highly skilled workers," he added. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was also present in the summit. Naidu requested help from Bill and Melinda Foundation in agriculture, nutrition, and health. Gates further said, "Two examples that I am very impressed with; one is the Mega Seed Park, which really is the first of its kind and it will make available lots of high-quality seeds and coupled with that is the new EC distribution application, D Krishi, which will help farmers access quality seeds in a timely manner and ensure that the government's resources are being widely used. These are the kind of innovations that will help achieve the Chief Minister's goal of sustained double-digit economic growth in Andhra Pradesh over the next decade." Gates, who landed in Visakhapatnam on Friday, visited the exhibition stalls in the summit along with Andhra Pradesh chief minister. The summit focused on innovative ideas, technologies and global best practices to push agricultural transformation in the state. This three-day global event was organized by the Andhra Pradesh Government in association with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Dalberg Advisors. More than 1,500 global leaders from 61 countries including business heads, start-up founders, leading policymakers, progressive farmers, NGOs, agriculture, and technology experts participated the summit over three days

Bill Gates praises Andhra Pradesh for using technology to help farmers