New York, NY, January 12, 2010 – Mouli Cohen, Founder and Chairman of Voltage Capital, responded today to the news that Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe signed a four year partnership between Finland, Nokia, and infoDev aimed at poverty reduction and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
The development program will bring much-needed expertise in assisting innovative, technology-driven Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (ECA). The four year program, known as Creating Sustainable Businesses in the Knowledge Economy, will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs in the information and communication technologies (ICT) and agribusiness sectors in particular, as well as the use of the mobile communications platform to grow content, services, and applications for developing countries.
“The Creating Sustainable Business in the Knowledge Economy program is an excellent example of how public-private partnerships are making remarkable contributions to sustainable development across the world by bringing their unique perspectives and know-how to solve common problems,” Cohen said. “infoDev, Nokia, and Finland each bring complementary expertise to the effort. I look forward to seeing the program’s long-term impact.”
Cohen, an international investor and lifelong philanthropist, went on to cite how mobile technology is moving at a rapid pace in developing country markets, where take-up rates are soaring. “Developing country users see their mobile phones as a tool to help them work, live, and communicate more effectively,” he said. “This program will enable the development of demand-driven applications by developing country entrepreneurs for developing country markets by helping them launch and scale their business ideas.”
About Mouli Cohen
Mr. Cohen is a successful entrepreneur who has founded and developed successful ventures in the biotechnology, high technology, digital media and entertainment sectors. He has balanced his success in business with extensive philanthropic activities. Over the years he has supported children’s charities, food programs, medical research, and the arts as well as education projects both in the US and abroad.