Cherie Blair honours Indian women entrepreneurs

Mumbai : Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and founder of The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, on Wednesday honoured young Indian women entrepreneurs cum students with The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and National Entrepreneurship Network (CBFW-NEN) Fellowship in Mumbai.

It was part of The Women Mean Business conference, which fosters a unique network of women entrepreneurs in India.

It encompasses new research into the barriers women face in setting up and developing their businesses, and offers practical solutions to these challenges.

The 2010 theme will highlight Information and Communication Technology as a tool for women to start and expand their businesses or initiatives with a particular focus on mobile services and web-based technology, such as e-mentoring and social media.

Speaking at the conference, Blair referred to the two very different faces of India ? one which is very tech savvy and the other completely deprived of it.

Blair was joined by several industry leaders who shared their insights on how technology is helping in the development of people in general and women in particular.

?The government, NGOs and the private sector has to work together towards development of the country. Government can act as a convenor of tripartite responses to the challenges facing women empowerment,? Blair said.

Blair was deeply touched when Neeru, a rural woman entrepreneur of the SEWA network spoke about her introduction to mobile technology and how she now uses a computer and the internet to send and receive valued information.

?In the 21st century, technology is the driver of change, especially for those who live in the underprivileged part of the world,? said Blair.

The Cherie Blair Foundation runs some very innovative programmes in India like the e-mentoring program which it runs in partnership with Google to provide virtual mentoring support to women who want to start or develop their businesses.

In partnership with the GSM Association Foundation CBFW is implementing ?Women Entrepreneurs and Mobile Technology Programme? which aims to advance women entrepreneurs? economic circumstances with the use of mobile technology.

There is a huge divide between urban and rural India and between men and women. Blair urged each one to take a commitment to bridge these gaps.