Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) —U.S. billionaire, founder of and main architect behind software giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, was recently in Costa Rica with his family on vacation. Gates — who arrived in a private jet in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport — stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Gulf of Papagayo, where he owns stock. Information about Gates’ trip was reported by local Spanish-language daily La Nacion in its April 11 issue.
Gates, 53, has a personal fortune estimated at $56 billion. And even though he no longer plays as big of a role in Microsoft as in the past, Gates continues to be a very influential figure not only in the field of technology but also in the world of philanthropy. Together with his wife Melinda, Gates created a foundation that donates funds to several charity and development projects.
Gates had announced his interest in visiting Costa Rica since last year. During a meeting with President Oscar Arias at the International Forum of Leaders of the Americas March 19, 2007, in Cartagena, Colombia, Gates said that “it’s amazing to me that a small nation such as Costa Rica is increasing its investment in education. Certainly, I’m a believer that part of that investment can be used in the application of technologies in educational processes.” Gates added, “I must go to Costa Rica” to check out first hand its advances in education and information technology that make the country an international example.
Back then, Gates applauded efforts by Costa Rica and claimed that integrating technology is a positive thing because “it would transform teaching and learning processes for children.” When asked about the Costa Rican economy, he said that “definitely, when there’s a critical mass, good universities and great employers such as HP and Intel that build capacity [as is the case in Costa Rica], demand will grow and opportunities will also increase.”
Even though this visit by Gates was strictly for vacation purposes, it’s expected that he will return in the future to learn more about educational information projects carried out by institutions such as the Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD). Arias had presented a letter to Gates asking Microsoft for support in financing and strengthening the National Educational Information Program (PRONIE), launched in 1988, during his first term as President (1986-90).
Arias reiterated his invitation to Gates to come to Costa Rica during the recent launching of his “Peace with Nature” initiative, which promotes the gathering of international leaders to support measures leading to sustainable development and the protection of the country’s natural treasures.
