This was the world's richest man's third and longest trip to India.

During the visit, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an initial $100 million commitment to support an initiative to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in India.

What was meant to be a philantropic visit, soon saw announcements of business initiatives on part of Microsoft - a Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion) investment agenda, to be spread over three years was announced.