Qualcomm, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and the Foundation for Women's Education and Vocational Training to support women entrepreneurs

BARCELONA, SPAIN & KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Qualcomm Inc., through its Wireless Reach initiative, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and the Foundation for Women's Education and Training, announced a collaborative project to support women entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

The project aims to enhance women's skills and knowledge in the areas of business and technology by leveraging the Mentoring Women in Business Program developed by Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which combines mentoring with technology to offer cross-border support to unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs.

Through this collaboration, women entrepreneurs mainly from Selangor, Kedah and Perlis, Malaysia who previously took part in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) training with the Foundation for Women's Education and Vocational Training, will use 3G-enabled smartphones and laptops to connect and engage with a community of skilled business professionals and entrepreneurs from around the world.

"Many women in developing and emerging economies have the ideas and ambition needed to become successful entrepreneurs, but are held back by barriers such as lack of access to technology and information, market opportunities, business skills and self-confidence," said Cherie Blair, founder of Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. "We are looking forward to expanding this program in Malaysia in order to help women entrepreneurs develop, grow and maintain their own successful businesses."

E-mentoring provides women from underserved areas with access to technology training and a platform to network and share information with other like-minded entrepreneurs, as well as access to information and dedicated mentors who have the business, marketing and technical skills to advise them on their business goals.

"Qualcomm proudly supports the Mentoring Women in Business Program by providing technical and project management, as well as the support of our employees as mentors," said Shawn A. Covell, VP of Wireless Reach for Qualcomm. "By leveraging the latest wireless technology, women entrepreneurs in Malaysia will have access to information and a global network to help maximize their potential, improve their professional opportunities and succeed in their ventures."

"Mentoring has been proven to provide women entrepreneurs with not only the knowledge, but also the boost of confidence, necessary to improve the performance of their business," said Mariamah Jaffar, president of the Foundation for Women's Education and Vocational Training. "We are thrilled that this project will work to provide underprivileged women in Malaysia with skills and access to a community that can enable them to be self-reliant and improve their socio-economic status through entrepreneurship."