Bill Gates urges world leaders not to ignore poor

Microsoft chairman and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates called on the world’s top economies not to ignore the world’s poorest countries as they confront Europe’s financial crisis.

“I don’t want to downplay in any way the importance of this crisis but I do think while we address that crisis we keep in mind the poorest countries,” Mr Gates said, before giving a report to G20 leaders about anti-poverty measures.

“I’ll remind people how important this is. How it’s more than just economics, it’s about saving children’s lives,” Mr Gates, whose foundation has spent billions on aid efforts around the globe, said.

The eurozone crisis has hijacked the agenda of the G20 summit as it threatens to tip the world economy back into recession but Mr Gates said that despite the fragile financial situation more can be done for the poor.

Mr Gates’ report to G20 leaders, whose countries account for 85 per cent of the global economy, suggests they can raise over $250 billion (€180 billion), a modest part of which could accelerate the development of poor countries.