HTC's Cher Wang to give 100,000 tablets to women in Asia-Pacific

Want China Times, CNA 2013-04-21

HTC chairwoman Cher Wang. (Photo/Chen Chih-yuan)

HTC chairwoman Cher Wang announced an initiative at a World Bank roundtable on Thursday to donate 100,000 HTC tablets to young women in Asia-Pacific countries.

"My commitment is to give HTC tablets to 100,000 young women in the Asia-Pacific region to empower them to define a greater role for themselves," Wang said at the discussion on the Equal Futures Partnership, which is dedicated to promoting women's rights.

Tablets have equipped a very powerful learning platform that emphasizes science and technology, she said.

"I strongly believe there should be a much greater role in technology for women, not only as users but also as innovators, business owners and industry leaders," Wang said.

Noting that technology has revolutionized the way people live and will continue to bring prosperity to the world, Wang said she was also very excited by the greater access to education brought by technology.

"Technology has created a powerful learning platform... connected mobile devices can now bring the best teachers in the world to anyone anywhere," Wang said.

Wang said she believed that if the potential of hundreds of millions of women who are now denied quality education or any education of any kind could be harnessed, the world would be much better off.

She also recalled founding HTC to create a computer so small that it could be carried in a pocket and said she was now setting her sights elsewhere.

"The dream has come true and now my next dream is to make the world a more equal place for women," Wang said.

Citing a Chinese philosopher, Wang said a journey of 1,000 miles must begin with a single step. "My hope is that those young women (who get HTC tablets) will be empowered to define a greater role for themselves and millions more will be empowered to the path of a more prosperous future," Wang said.

HTC, Taiwan's leading smartphone maker, was the only Asian private business invited to attend the forum sponsored by the World Bank at its headquarters in Washington DC.

Most of the other participants represented Equal Futures Partnership member countries, including Denmark, Mexico, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Croatia, Norway and Benin.

The roundtable focused on how to expand economic opportunities and political participation for women and girls in Equal Futures Partnership member countries.

Wang's commitment to donating tablets drew applause from other participants at the meeting, including World Bank chairman Jim Yong Kim, US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and senior officials and financial experts from many other countries.

Wang, who concurrently serves as chairwoman of the ABAC Women's Forum, said it was the first time she had been invited to attend a forum held by the World Bank.

Given its diplomatic isolation, Taiwan should take part in as many international activities as possible, she said.

A booth displaying HTC's new products, including smartphones and tablets, was set up at the World Bank roundtable venue, drawing many visitors.

Wang has also been invited to attend an Equal Futures Partnership- related roundtable discussion to be held at the White House on Friday.