Bill Gates and Binod Chaudhary meet in Singapore

KATHMANDU: Binod Chaudhary, Chairman of Chaudhary Group and Member of Parliament, met with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates at the Philanthropy Asia Alliance 2025 (PAA-2025) conference in Singapore on Tuesday.

In a statement from the Chaudhary Group, it was revealed that the two leaders engaged in extensive discussions about the critical challenges Nepal faces in its healthcare and employment sectors.

Chaudhary expressed gratitude for the Gates Foundation’s ongoing support during pivotal moments in Nepal’s history, particularly during the 2015 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its contributions to child nutrition initiatives under the “Strong Nepal” program.

Sharing the details of the meeting on social media, Chaudhary noted that they explored ways to deepen and broaden the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s involvement in Nepal’s social sector.

The conversation also touched on the possibility of adapting the health and employment models successfully implemented by the Gates Foundation in other countries to address Nepal’s specific needs and conditions.

Following the 2015 earthquake, the Chaudhary Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Chaudhary Group, played a key role in supporting government relief efforts. The Foundation built nearly 3,000 earthquake-resistant temporary shelters, provided school reconstruction, and distributed food and water to affected communities.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Chaudhary Foundation was instrumental in bolstering Nepal’s healthcare infrastructure. It set up ICUs and oxygen plants at Bir Hospital, Dhangadhi, and Surkhet, and distributed oxygen concentrators, PPE kits, PCR testing equipment, and N-95 masks to all seven provinces.

Bill Gates, through the Gates Foundation, has been a leading global advocate for health, education, and technology initiatives. He was also one of the prominent speakers at the PAA-2025 conference, which brought together world leaders, philanthropists, and policymakers.