Hyderabad: Rounding off his four-day visit, Microsoft chief Bill Gates on November 14 said India was emerging as a leader in e-governance applications with pioneering projects displaying greater "commitment and energy" and saw a "special role" for the country in this "digital decade".

"I am excited to see a lot of progress and the way India is competing all over the world. It can make unique contributions in this exciting digital decade," Gates said in a scintillating address before leaving for United States after a four-day India tour.

The software mogul held the audience at "Shilpa Kala Vedika" auditorium in awe with a presentation that gave a glimpse of the future world of communications.

With the nearby "Cyber Towers", the new icon of techno-savvy Andhra Pradesh, providing a perfect backdrop, Gates spoke of how India was ahead of other countries in adopting e-governance applications.

The gathering, comprising ministers, Legislators and officials, heard him in rapt attention as he shared his vision of communication revolution and demonstrated the functioning of Tablet PC, a new addition to Microsoft's technology arsenal.

Giving his impressions of the four-day visit to the country, he said he could see lot of progress in creating communications infrastructure.

"Because of its investments in education and communications technology and its great human resource base, India has a special role to play in the digital decade," he said.

PTI