Gates Foundation to open office in Singapore

Philanthropic organisation's presence here will be established with the support of EDB

- Chin Hui Shan

The Gates Foundation will be setting up an office in Singapore, said its chairman Bill Gates on May 5.

Speaking at the Philanthropy Asia Summit convened by Temasek Trust's Philanthropy Asia Alliance, Mr Gates said: "The Gates Foundation is putting an office here — to access the science, to partner with the philanthropic community."

Founded in 2000 by Mr Gates and his then wife Melinda French Gates, the foundation is a philanthropic organisation that aims to fight poverty, disease and inequity around the world.

"I would say that Asian innovation is a part of why I am so excited about the progress we can make in health. Initially, when we thought of Asian innovation, we mostly thought about low cost — which is a great thing," Mr Gates said during a dialogue with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

"I mean, the lowest-cost vaccines in the world are made in India, Indonesia — this region. But more and more, the innovation is about cutting-edge work."

Mr Gates added: "Both (Gates Foundation and Breakthrough Energy) are very excited about what's going on in Singapore."