HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) attended the 20th Microsoft CEO Summit held at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond Campus in Washington, Seattle. The Prince’s visit was in response to an invitation from Mr. Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft to attend the event. The Summit was exclusive to 100 CEOs most influential in the world.

During the summit Prince Alwaleed and Mr. Gates discussed the latest economic developments in addition to topics related to KHC’s international investments including its stake of 47.5% in the Four Seasons which is co-owned by Bill Gates’ Cascade with a 47.5% stake, which the remaining 5% is owned by Mr. Isadore Sharp. Also, the two discussed future potential collaboration. Moreover, Prince Alwaleed met with some of the most prominent CEOs.

During the function, Prince Alwaleed met with some of the most prominent CEOs that included Mr. Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO. There was an opportunity to discuss general issues, topics related to investments and HRH’s international investments through KHC especially in the United States.

In 2015, Prince Alwaleed and Mr. Gates met at the George V, Hotel in Paris; and had also met at The Savoy Hotel, during His Highness visit to London, UK in 2013. In 2012, Prince Alwaleed held a private meeting with Mr. Gates, during His Highness visit to Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, the two attended the inauguration of the 3rd Abu Dhabi Media Summit. In the same year, Prince Alwaleed received Mr. Gates, at Kingdom Resort in Riyadh, the two discussed potential collaboration between Alwaleed Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Moreover, to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and achieve a polio-free world by 2018, Alwaleed Philanthropies provided a $30 million grant to the Polio Eradication Fund (PEF) – operated by the National Philanthropic Trust of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pays for all the operational costs of PEF, allowing 100% of Alwaleed Philanthropies’ donation to be allocated to polio eradication efforts. PEF, in turn, provides grants to UNICEF and WHO to implement critical polio eradication campaigns.

In 2013, the PEF funding helped 80 million children in 15 countries receive the oral polio vaccine (OPV). Campaigns were introduced in high-risk areas including Cameroon and Kenya, as well as in Egypt and the Palestinian territories due to the influx of Syrian refugees requiring vaccinations. During 2014, as indicated by WHO and UNICEF, the PEF funding supported activities in 24 countries. In Yemen, this was translated into national immunization campaigns covering 3.5 million children, while 200,000 of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) were procured in Pakistan, and 3.8 million children were vaccinated in Chad.