Binod Chaudhary meets Bill Gates at PAA 2025 in Singapore

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

During the sideline meeting, the two engaged in an in-depth discussion on Nepal’s pressing challenges in healthcare and employment. Chaudhary expressed his gratitude to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its continued partnership and support, especially during Nepal’s critical periods such as the 2015 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and in improving child nutrition through the “Baliyo Nepal” initiative.

Chaudhary shared details of the meeting through his social media, posting a photograph with Gates and highlighting the significance of their conversation.

He also mentioned that discussions included expanding the Foundation’s support in Nepal’s social sector and exploring the implementation of successful healthcare and employment programs that the Foundation has launched in other countries.

Following the 2015 earthquake, the Chaudhary Foundation – the social arm of the Chaudhary Group – had constructed nearly 3,000 earthquake-resistant temporary shelters in collaboration with the Nepal government’s relief efforts. The Foundation also contributed by rebuilding schools and distributing food and clean drinking water to affected communities.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Chaudhary Foundation played a key role in strengthening Nepal’s healthcare infrastructure. It established an ICU unit and oxygen plant at Bir Hospital and installed oxygen plants in Dhangadhi and Surkhet. Additionally, the Foundation distributed oxygen concentrators, personal protective equipment (PPE), PCR test kits, and N-95 masks across all seven provinces of Nepal.

Bill Gates, representing the world’s largest philanthropic organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was one of the key figures at the PAA 2025 event. The conference gathered global leaders, philanthropists, and policymakers to foster collaboration aimed at sustainable development and social justice across Asia.

Distinguished attendees included Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Gates Foundation Co-chair Bill Gates, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy, WHO Chief Scientist Sir Jeremy Farrar, and UNDP Assistant Secretary-General Susan Brown.

Nepali industrialist and social worker Binod Chaudhary represented Nepal at this prestigious event, which aims to open new avenues for collaboration among philanthropic organizations committed to driving inclusive progress throughout Asia.