JERUSALEM, Oct. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates kicked off his first visit to Israel on Wednesday by meeting teenage students in Tel Aviv who performed excellent in technology subjects, the local Ha'aretz daily reported.

   Gates, known as one of the world's richest people and the most influential philanthropists today, arrived in Israel on Tuesday evening for a 24-hour visit.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates (R) shakes hands with an Israeli high school student during a meeting with students in Tel Aviv Oct. 26. (Reuters)

   The billionaire is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Industry, Trade and Employment Minister Ehud Olmert and business leaders.

   Gates is also expected to announce a cooperation agreement with Israel, said the report.

   Microsoft employs some 200 workers at its software security development center in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.

   The coming year is important for Gates, who will be turning 50 and Microsoft he founded 30 years ago is facing a major new threat from Google, which recently joined forces with one of Microsoft's major rivals, Sun Microsystems.

   Gates, the legendary software giant, and his wife Melinda established a charitable foundation in 2000, which is considered the world's largest private foundation.

   It has contributed more than 27 billion US dollars to various relief causes to date. Enditem