ANI |
Updated: January 5, 2023 12:12 p.m IST
Washington [US]Jan 5 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday (local time) said Google India has committed to mentoring one million Indian women entrepreneurs at the launch of the US strategy on global economic security for women.
“At the launch of the alliance, Google India committed to mentor one million Indian women entrepreneurs; we are working with other partners to increase that number. It would have a tremendous impact,” Blinken said.
Highlighting the US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, he said, “We are working to create and, if necessary, replicate efforts like the US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment. It connects the private sector and civil society to provide Indian women with technical skills and networking opportunities to help them grow their businesses.”
Blinken also pledged to promote female entrepreneurship by addressing some of the challenges that too often hold women back, including a lack of membership – mentoring and training opportunities.
This was his first event in 2023. He said that President Biden came into office with a commitment to gender equality and equity because, as he said, and I quote: “governments, economies and communities are stronger when they include the full participation of women.”
Blinken laid out some strategies for creating a world where all women and girls everywhere can contribute to and benefit from economic growth and global prosperity.
“Closing the gender gap in the workforce by 2025, as you’ve heard, would add $28 trillion to the global economy.” Especially at a time when we are working to recover from COVID, we are dealing with the impact of climate, we are dealing with many conflicts that are also holding back the global economy, that contribution is more vital than ever,” added US State Sen.
The strategy focuses on breaking down some of the barriers that stand in the way of women’s full economic participation – discriminatory policies that maintain unequal wages or limit access to credit that women entrepreneurs and innovators need to start and grow businesses; laws that prohibit women from working in energy, manufacturing and other industries in certain countries; attitudes and practices that drive women out of education and the labor market.
Speaking about Afghanistan and the Taliban’s recent decree banning university education and women’s work in NGOs, he said: “We are committed to standing up for women wherever their rights are threatened, including in Afghanistan, but unfortunately we continue to see it deepens and worsens.”
It focused on supporting women and girls in all their diversity, including women who often face the biggest and highest barriers, such as those from marginalized backgrounds, religious minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTKI+ people.
Explaining the strategies, Blinken said the US will improve women’s economic competitiveness so that more women can fully participate and lead in all sectors, in all industries – including as CEOs and board members.
“One of the ways we’re helping to do this is through programs like VE-Champs, which will provide technical assistance and training to women’s chambers of commerce and business associations in 18 countries across Europe to support women-owned small businesses,” she said. is Blinken.
As for strengthening the basic supports – childcare, caregiving – that allow women to participate equally in the economy, he said, “Covid-19 has forced millions of women around the world to withdraw from the workforce to take on the responsibilities of caring for their families . We will therefore expand access to options so that carers, most of whom are women, can actually return to work. To do this, we support programs such as the World Bank’s Invest in Childcare initiative, which will help improve access to quality, affordable childcare in low- and middle-income countries around the world.”
He also emphasized removing some of the social, legal and regulatory barriers that stand in the way of a level playing field, such as laws that make it more challenging for women to work in certain roles, limiting their career advancement.
He cited the example of gender equality at the World Bank and said: “World Bank – Women have equal legal economic status with men in 12 countries around the world – 12 countries around the world – including equal pay and legal protection in the workplace. ” (NEITHER)
