The billionaire commits over USD 350 million for health, Agriculture, Financial services in Tanzania on certainty the money will be used properly.
World’s best entrepreneur Bill Gates (L) Meets the Tanzania President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli
By TZ Business News Staff.
Bill Gates, one of the world’s richest men at a net worth of USD 86 billion in 2017 has found a likeness with the Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli, it has emerged.
He and the President share common goals, Gates said in Dar es Salaam on August 10, 2017 after meeting the President at State House. The American entrepreneur said he and the President totally agreed they both like to see things happen quickly.
The Sun, a British publication, recently reported Bill Gates dropped to world’s second richest man in July 2017 when the owner of Amazon took the first position. While Gates is regularly named as the richest man in the world, on July 27 Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos gazumped Gates when his net worth hit a staggering £69billion ($90.6billion), the Sun reports.
Speaking during a joint press briefing at State house after the meeting, President Magufuli said his crackdown on corruption and the Tanzania civil service clean-up have impressed Bill Gates, adding that Gates has committed over USD 350 million for use in health, agriculture and improvement of financial services sector in Tanzania with knowledge the money will not be misused.
The philanthropist was on a Tanzania visit since earlier in the week to visit some projects funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The projects are part of the Foundation’s assistance to improve agriculture, health and financial services delivery in the country.
In the press briefing, Gates reiterated his commitment to continue funding improvement of the “three big areas” the Foundation he co-owns with his wife puts money into: they are helping to digitize the financial services, they work in health where Tanzania has done well reducing child mortality as well as dealing with the problems of malaria and HIV, and agriculture where they want to improve productivity.
The discussion at statehouse cantered on “how we can work together more closely,” Gates said.
The President described Gates as “a very good person,” adding that “It is his own decision to give us this money.” Gates has expanded his assistance levels to the country, the President said expressing gratitude. Read our earlier report here.
