In recognition of yesterday’s International Women’s Day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote about the importance of investing in women’s empowerment as a strategy for promoting social stability, job creation and economic growth around the world.

We were honored that Secretary Clinton cited ExxonMobil as an example of a U.S. business that has embraced the mission to invest in women’s economic opportunities, specifically by training women entrepreneurs.

“When women have equal access to education and health care and the freedom to start businesses, the economic, political and social benefits ripple far beyond their own home,” Secretary Clinton wrote in an op-ed on the Department of State website.

We couldn’t agree more, which is why in honor of International Women’s Day, ExxonMobil and the ExxonMobil Foundation have committed $6 million in 2011 grants to support economic opportunities for women around the world. We’ve invested $47 million over the past six years in efforts aimed at improving living standards in developing countries and breaking historic barriers that have blocked women from the marketplace.

You can read about the 2011 grant recipients in our press release.